Kevin Bocquet reports: "The queue began forming at dawn"

A new computer system has led to delays of up to three months on postal applications for passports.

Wayne Tunstall, 18, from Ashbourne, Derbyshire, who was several hundred applicants back in the 300-metre queue which wrapped round the India Buildings in the city centre, said: "I am absolutely fuming.

"I am going to Orlando on Friday and I have been waiting for a passport for 10 weeks. It has cost me nearly £1,000 for the holiday.

"I'm going with my uncle and cousin, who's wheelchair-bound and needs me to help him, so if I don't get there it won't just be my holiday that is going to be ruined.

"It's cost me £30 in train fares, £8.50 to get another passport picture signed by my doctor and they even charge us £10 for the privilege of being in this massive queue."

Massive demand

Official figures show it took an average of seven weeks to complete normal applications in March, compared to two weeks normally.

Liverpool has been the worst affected of the issuing centres. The average wait is 49 days, compared to Newport with 34, Belfast with 33, Peterborough with 29 and Glasgow with 28.

Hard-pressed staff said the introduction of the new computer system coincided with massive demand as the holiday season begins.

Staff in Liverpool even worked the Bank Holiday to try and reduce the numbers waiting.

The office has asked all but emergency applicants - who need to travel within the next four days - not to call personally at the office.