On our Christmas shops page we always list the last delivery dates for Christmas, so you can make sure you order your Christmas shopping in time. But with mail deliveries only just getting back to normal after the backlog caused by the snow, and more bad weather forecast for this weekend many retailers are unable to give a last Christmas delivery date, putting many Christmas gift deliveries in doubt.

Traditionally, you could order right up until a couple of days before, but families are facing disappointment this year, with millions of goods that have already been bought still not delivered. As of 1.30pm yesterday there was a buildup of four million items still with private couriers. And with another four million a day expected to enter the delivery system, Santa may not be able to deliver all those presents for Christmas.

It's not all bad news though. In Scotland, some traditional retailers are expecting a bumper Christmas after Tesco suspended deliveries. With the bad weather subsiding some areas are anticipating a last minute rush to the real shops.