Post Office apologises after technical glitch shuts down counters around the UK

Some customers said they had tried multiple branches only to be turned away

Customers were reportedly turned away from counters and unable to pay bills, post packages or collect benefits because of the glitch (PA)

A technical glitch at the Post Office shut down branches around the country on Monday (May 9).

The Post Office later apologised for inconvenience caused to customers on Twitter.

It said: "We're sorry for any inconvenience caused by issues with counter services at some branches this morning. This has now been resolved."

Customers were reportedly turned away from counters and unable to pay bills, post packages or collect benefits because of the glitch.

Some said they had been turned away from multiple branches.

One customer said on Twitter that they had been told at their local branch that the system had shut down nationwide.

Staff at a branch on Kensington High Street told the Evening Standard that they understood every single branch in the country had been affected.

Customers reacted angrily. Ms Smith, from Notting Hill, told the Standard “I was in a hurry. I wanted my new passport application to go today.

“It just ridiculous. Now they've locked the front door here without putting any sort of notice up. People are just standing around looking confused.

“The staff can't even say what time they will be back up and running again. And when I do come back later, the queue will be huge."

A Post Office spokesperson said only some of the group's 11,000 branches were affected, but could not confirm how many.

The group called an emergency meeting with its counter services team after leaning of the technical issue on Monday morning and counter services were temporarily suspended while the technical glitch was resolved.