A minister admitted yesterday there will be Christmas shortages as a port boss warned consumers: 'Let's not fool ourselves.'
Ports are log-jammed, shop shelves are empty, the threat of lorry strikes looms and experts have warned that the cost of Christmas will soar.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps admitted he could not guarantee families would not face shortages as they shop for Christmas favourites.
He said: 'We'll all be able to be together, we'll be able to buy things, there will be food on the table.'
But he added: 'I can't guarantee that every line of every product will be available. It's at that level, rather than thinking Christmas will have to be cancelled and upsetting children everywhere across the country.'
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps admitted he could not guarantee families would not face shortages as they shop for Christmas favourites
However, Tim Morris, head of the Major Ports Group, which represents large commercial harbours, said consumers should take Government assurances with a pinch of salt.
He added: 'This week has seen improvements in what we call stack levels, so the amount of containers, for example, sat on the ground. But let's not fool ourselves.' Shipping giant Maersk has diverted some vessels from Felixstowe, the UK's largest container port, to rivals on the Continent. The chaos has led many to suggest Britain will face a winter of rising prices and empty shelves.
Families have already started panic-buying toys, a major retail boss said, as brands such as Barbie and Lego warned they were selling at 'Christmas quantities'.
Unions are threatening a winter of discontent, with a wave of strikes over pay and conditions. Unite says it could pull its 50,000 lorry drivers
