The nation is on tenterhooks as the rampaging new Covid variant threatens to cancel Christmas for millions of us.

Yet as Omicron forces more of us to do our gift shopping online, postal and delivery services risk being overwhelmed as the virus and self-isolation hits staffing.

The Post Office has warned it is expecting its busiest week of the year, with an extra five million visits. 

And last week Royal Mail warned families in 23 postal areas across the country — including Belper in Derby, Chelmsford in Essex and Shrewsbury in Shropshire — that, due to staff illness and isolation, their presents and cards might not arrive in time.

At the same time, complaints are stacking up.

There were 3,173 gripes raised with consumer-rights website Resolver in the first two weeks of December — more than double received over the same time in November. 

Problems include delayed or missing parcels and Malaysia goods arriving damaged.

As a result, some frustrated shoppers are now turning up at depots to collect their orders themselves.

Last year, millions of us missed out as parcels and letters were held up in the post.

A survey by consumer campaigners Which? found half of us had problems with online deliveries over Christmas.

Just last week, an undercover investigation revealed parcels were being hurled about and damaged by staff at a warehouse owned by delivery giant Hermes. 

At one point, the undercover reporter was even encouraged to throw parcels over gates if customers were not at home.

The Times also reported how drivers were being told to fob off customers complaining about delays by pretending their courier had been in an accident.

Almost two-thirds of customers have experienced problems with deliveries in the last three months, according to regulator Ofcom. 

And a quarter of people who send a package found it difficult to make a complaint or contact parcel firms.

As complaints soar, the regulator plans to better hold delivery firms to account.

Proposals include rules that require customer service staff to be appropriately trained.

Yet Matthew Upton, director of policy at charity Citizens Advice, says the watchdog should go further. 

He says: 'With almost 600 people dealing with a lost or stolen parcel every hour, Ofcom needs to come forward and lay down fines for companies if their negligence causes problems for consumers.'

So for now, what happens if your Christmas gets lost in the post?

Here, Money Mail guides you through your refund rights if parcel firms do not deliver . . .