Royal Mail has launched a drive to recruit over 1000 temporary workers in Scotland for the busy Christmas period.

The staff will help sort the Christmas post as well as the increasing amount of online shopping, with a variety of shifts between mid-November and early January.

The Scottish roles are part of a wider recruitment drive for a total of 19,000 short-term festive posts across the UK.

Extra staff are needed to work in mail centres, distribution sites and data centres.

Royal Mail Group's express parcels business, Parcelforce Worldwide, is also recruiting around 1850 extra sorting staff including 830 drivers throughout the UK.

Royal Mail's chief operations officer Sue Whalley said: "Christmas is our busiest time of year. We plan all year round to help ensure we deliver the best possible service for consumers and businesses in the UK at Christmas.

"We make a substantial commitment in additional resources including the recruitment of thousands of temporary workers to handle the festive mailbag and the growing market of online Christmas shopping."