People in Hounslow are among thousands of others in the country experiencing passport delays due to staff shortages and poor management.

A call from shocked MPs including Feltham and Heston MP Seema Malhotra was made to Home Secretary Theresa May in Parliament yesterday (12), to address the backlogs at the Passport Office and help those families with their travel plans at risk.

Ms Malhotra highlighted a number of cases of families affected in Hounslow and has been told by the Home Office these would be looked into.

Ms Malhotra said: “I have been shocked by the extent of what local families have been through, and costs they have incurred through no fault of their own.

"It is devastating that parents are unable to be reunited with their children in the UK because of cuts to staffing and the Home Secretary ignoring predictions that demand would increase before the summer.

"Even more concern is the price that young children are paying. One new born baby requires urgent vaccination, and another child has had a delay in registering for a school place.

"Another family expected their passports to be done, had flights booked but have since had them cancelled, at a cost of £1600.

"I have asked the Home Secretary to confirm the emergency measures she outlined in Parliament will benefit families in Hounslow, and if so how quickly.”

Ms May said  she is "determined to do everything possible, while maintaining the security of the passport, to speed up the system."

Since, a series of additional measures and advice to ensure families receive their passports in good time for their summer holidays have been issued.

The following measures will be in place from Monday, June 16.

 - Overseas customers renewing an existing passport will be able to apply for it to be extended for 12 months.

- Parents or guardians of children living overseas who wish to travel to the UK will be able to apply for an emergency travel document in place of a new or renewed passport for their children.

- Free fast track upgrades will be available to people in the UK who have an urgent need to travel. To qualify, customers must be booked to travel within the next 7 days and their application must have been with the Passport Office for longer than the standard processing time of three weeks.