PASSPORT Office overtime payments topped £2.5 million in one month during a chaotic summer in which holidaymakers' plans were put in jeopardy, new figures show.

The then-Government agency paid out £6.75 million to staff for extra hours during July, August and September as they attempted to clear a backlog of thousands of applications.

Extra staff were drafted into HM Passport Office (HMPO) and working hours were extended over seven days a week as it dealt with its highest demand in 12 years, with officials insisting the delays were caused by the summer surge in applications starting earlier.

HMPO's overtime costs were £2.065 million in July, £2.53 million in August and £2.14 million in September.