Anger at Yodel delivery backlog

Disgruntled customers have been complaining they will not receive their Christmas presents in time because of a huge backlog at the depots of one of Britain's largest delivery firms.

Yodel, which delivers for companies including Amazon, Littlewoods and Mothercare, and ranks only second to Royal Mail, has been accused of having a backlog of up to 750,000 packages.

The company, which uses more than 5,000 vans to make deliveries all over the UK, is believed to be able to cope with a maximum of 1.2 million parcels a day but has actually been handling around 1.5 million.

The company's chief executive, Jonathan Smith, has admitted to making "mistakes" and said there had been a huge number of online orders made this year.

He told the Daily Mail: "This appears to have been a very strong online Christmas. We do millions and millions of deliveries and occasionally make mistakes."

Many consumers have taken to the internet to vent their frustrations at not receiving their orders.

One Twitter user, adamfelixobrien, said: "Yodel, you better come through tomorrow, or THERE WILL BE BLOOD."

PinkTink28 complained: "Yodel seem to clear their backlog by stealing/losing parcels."

Meanwhile, Sionsi123 said: "Well Yodel, yet another unhappy customer! You lost my daughter's present!!! Been waiting in for it since Tuesday!"

Customers have also launched an online petition to urge firms such as Amazon to stop using the company.

A statement on the Yodel website said anyone who was meant to receive a delivery before Christmas should receive it "subject to issues beyond our control".

It said: "Yodel has been delivering millions of parcels a day in the run up to Christmas.

"We would like to reassure both our clients and their customers that our sort and service centres are working to plan and anyone who was due a delivery before Christmas should receive it, subject to issues beyond our control.

"Deliveries will continue on Christmas Eve, but if you are concerned about a parcel please use the online tracking facility."

PA