600 Christmas jobs at West Midlands parcel firm

Yodel, which has a main sorting centre on the Willenhall and Darlaston border, has created the seasonal roles, which include warehouse staff and drivers.

The jobs boost comes despite many haulage firms in the West Midlands currently struggling to recruit lorry drivers.

There have been warnings that Christmas deliveries may be hit by a national shortage of HGV drivers, but Yodel says it is 'fully prepared' to get presents delivered on time.

Bosses say they have already filled 450 vacancies and are looking for an additional 150 sorting staff for its centre in Owen Road.

It comes as the company, which handles more than 145 million parcels per year, is recruiting 5,000 part-time and full-time staff across the UK in preparation for the Christmas peak, when it expects to handle up a million parcels a day.

Bosses have said that although these are seasonal positions for the festive period, many of the roles could become permanent.

They have put it down to an increase in Yodel's client base and growth in parcel volumes.

Yodel's executive chairman, Dick Stead said this was a 'key time' for retailers and shoppers.

He said: "Many of the vacancies are flexible and perfect for those who want to fit work around families, or who have retired but want to remain active and earn some extra cash.

"Others are full-time and we expect many people to stay on beyond December.

"Whatever the job, we're giving everyone working for us the tools they need to deliver a top service."

Bosses have said the firm was expecting to handle 15 per cent more parcels over the festive period compared to the run up to Christmas last year.

A special control tower has been established at the sorting facility on the border of Willenhall and Darlaston to oversee volume management, operational action and weather contingency over the winter.

Operational hours have also been extended and deliveries to homes and businesses are being increased to seven days a week.

Mr Stead added: "For our retail clients this vital season is known as the golden quarter and we are fully prepared for parcel volumes to reach record levels.

"Our clients and their customers depend on us to deliver Christmas and we take that responsibility very seriously."