Royal Mail hire 19000 extra staff for busiest day of the year

There are 500 extra staff at the Bristol Royal Mail sorting office today, was what's been pegged as the busiest day of the year for mail.

Across the country, the company have hired a grand total of 19,000 extra staff to cope with the load.

At the Bristol they're expecting to get though around 3 million letters.

The extra pair of hands are to account for the millions of letters and gifts being sent across the country today.

The last day to send First Class mail is Wednesday 21 December and Second Class is Tuesday 20 December.

If you're posted to the USA, Canada or Finland it's 15 December.

In light of the news that Post Office workers are to stage five days of strikes next week - Mike Lennon says it'll be business as usual.

ITV's Katy Rickett reports from the sorting office: