Postal service won't use storm-hit port at Christmas

Ireland's national postal service has abandoned its plans of using Holyhead port for Christmas deliveries.

The port will stay shut until at least Thursday because of damage caused by Storm Darragh, which saw gusts of up to 94mph (151km/h) as it battered the UK.

But An Post said it was confident presents would arrive on time via alternative routes despite a huge backlog of parcels.

"We'd love to see it reopen asap, but we are not relying on it," a spokesman said.

The firm said 500,000 items had been diverted and reached Ireland using shipping routes from Pembrokeshire, Larne and Liverpool.

The spokesman said Irish transport minister James Lawless had relaxed rules on drivers' hours until 27 December so they could stay on the road for longer.

The closure of Holyhead port has also affected those travelling for Christmas with many posting about the matter on social media.

It comes at one of the busiest trading periods between Ireland and the UK, with passenger numbers expected to swell during the festive period.

It was previously hoped the port would be back open by 13 December.

Ger Hyland, president of the Irish Road Haulage Association, said earlier this week: "We're really going to struggle to get goods delivered to both the high street and for internet shopping.

"It is my reckoning that it's not going to be delivered in time."

He called the situation "disastrous", saying freight was "lying idle" at Holyhead and Dublin ports.