Glasgow passport office has been inundated by desperate holidaymakers amid a 'black hole' of unprocessed applications.
Hundreds of people have turned up at the Northgate centre in a last ditch attempt to secure their passport, with some with suitcases in tow.
It is understood the Home Office has put 4,000 applications submitted months ago to the back of the queue, prioritising new ones first, the Daily Record reports.
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Families travelling to the Glasgow office have spoken of their frustration as the chaos continues.
Phil Lennon and his 15-year-old daughter Ellie were among those desperately trying to get their hands on travel documents in the city.
The Wishaw dad had sent applications for himself, Ellie and partner Michelle Gray, 43, in February.
But with their flight to Menorca due to depart on Thursday, they were becoming increasingly desperate.
Helpline staff told the 43-year-old that Ellie's passport was being held "in examination" in Glasgow, but it could take 10 weeks to authorise.
His own was sent to Durham for processing and Michelle's to Newport in Wales. Despite paying £169 each to fast track the applications in February, they were lost and no refunds offered.
The contracts manager explained: "You couldn't make this up. We have spent two hours a day for weeks on end trying to get some progress and we kept getting told it's getting sorted - but nothing does.
"Our only hope now is that a sensible person in Glasgow will issue Ellie's passport and I can either get mine couriered from Durham or go to that office tomorrow (Wednesday) and pick it up.
"The whole experience has been stressful and exhausting and it's hard to imagine that it could have been worse handled. It's very frustrating to see people who apply in May and June get sorted out within the ten weeks the Passport Office promises.
"For the people who applied in good time there most certainly is a black hole, which is wrecking our summer holiday."
Ellie said: "I haven't been abroad for three years and I've been looking forward to this, as I will be unable to travel again for another year. It just doesn't seem fair to be treated like this."
Thankfully family's Menorca trip was saved at the last minute when the Passport Office finally relented.
Simon Park was also in the Glasgow queue, hoping to get his hands on a last minute passport for daughter Grace, 14, so they can go on a 50th birthday holiday to Mexico.
The family of 18 was able to fly out on Wednesday after he spent two days in the queue.
Simon said: "We have to get to Edinburgh Airport for 9am, so this is our very last chance. It has been a disaster from start to finish and I spent four hours in this same queue on Monday only to be told to come back today.
"I don't blame the staff here - they're almost as stressed out as the punters in the queue and it's not fair on them."
Simon said he has tried to pre-pay for an express one-day passport after being lucky enough to get a gold-dust appointment - but the money had not been taken from his account.
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