Problems with a new computer system at Liverpool and Newport have led to backlogs of 10 weeks or more.

Staff are being told to prioritise applications, according to the date of travel.

The completion of normal applications, which should take just two weeks, took an average of seven weeks in March, Home Office figures show.

Targets missed

In the worst-hit office, Liverpool, the average wait is 49 working days, followed by Newport with 34, Belfast with 33, Peterborough with 29 and Glasgow with 28.

Only London, where the average wait is just five days, is regularly beating the Government's target.

Liverpool has now asked all but emergency applicants, who need to travel within four days, not to call personally at the office.

The backlog of applications was 222,631 compared with 168,064 a year ago - an increase of 32%.

The Passport Agency failed to meet its processing targets every month last year apart from April.