Tesco customers have been left furious after having to wait hours in a virtual queue to secure a Christmas delivery slot.

This morning the supermarket released slots for the week starting 21 December - but only to their delivery saver customers who pay a subscription fee.

If you're a Tesco 'Delivery Saver' customer, the slots open one week earlier: 13 November at 7am. The good news is that Tesco is still accepting applications for new Delivery Saver customers. I am also on the list for Tesco, and my experience has been that sometimes when the system is busy there are no slots, but a few hours later, they reappear. So keep looking, is my advice. I have found them amazing actually, no problems with stock or delivery times. Feel bad I have not used them before. Tesco Tesco's online Christmas delivery slots are available to book from 13 November at 7am for the chain's Delivery Saver customers. Non delivery saver customers can book their Christmas food shop.

But after waking up to log on at 7am, many complained they had still not been given a slot after two-and-a-half hours of waiting.

One person posted on Twitter: 'What an absolute joke. Been a delivery customer for years, have delivery saver.

Almost two and a half hours waiting and still in the queue 😡

— Sonia Bradley (@50N1ABR4DL3Y) November 13, 2020

'Went on at 6.45am. Been in the queue for two hours and 20 minutes. What is happening? Should I just shop elsewhere this Christmas?'

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Another user posted: 'Been waiting 2.5 hours now (since 6.59) in a queue for Christmas slot. What's happening? Am I lost in cyber hell somewhere?'

Customers were faced with a message that read: 'You are currently in a queue - we'll put you through as soon as we can.'

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On its Twitter page, the supermarket posted: 'A lot of customers are using our website and app at the moment. So we're temporarily using a virtual waiting room to help manage the flow.

'We're sorry if things take a bit longer than usual.'

Anyone else still in the online Tesco queue for a Christmas slot?! #tescopic.twitter.com/f4qKOrng2l

— SEN Resources Blog (@senresourceblog) November 13, 2020

While some were given slots after a long wait, others were unsuccessful and forced to shop for their Christmas dinner supplies elsewhere.

Those who did manage to book complained festive essentials like turkeys were not yet available.

There was also no mention of people on the government's vulnerable list, who are entitled to priority delivery slots because of coronavirus.

@Tesco been waiting 2.5 hours now (since 6.59) in a queue for Christmas slot. What's happening? Am I lost in cyber hell somewhere?

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— annie (@annie6724) November 13, 2020

A Tesco spokesman said: 'Demand for online slots over the festive period is high, and we have more slots this Christmas than ever before.

'We are experiencing high volumes of traffic to our website and groceries app and are temporarily limiting the number of customers using it.'

They apologised for the inconvenience and claimed home delivery and click and collect slots are still available for the Christmas period.

Tesco will today resume its delivery subscription service across the UK.

The Delivery Saver service provides discounted delivery to customers of the supermarket - but was suspended earlier this year in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

The retailer however announced last month that it would restart elements of the service for customers, with some plans set to resume for subscribers from today (July 1).

The service however will not fully resume until further notice, the supermarket has confirmed.

So what is the Delivery Saver service? And which parts are being resumed? Here's all you need to know.

What is Delivery Saver?

Delivery Saver is a subscription-based delivery service offered to customers by Tesco.

It's designed to help reduce the cost of home deliveries by offering an upfront discounted fee.

Subscribers pay, for example, £6.99 a month and can have free-delivery on orders any day of the week.

The scheme provides access to daily home delivery and Click+Collect services - with active subscribers able to receive up to one delivery a day if slots are available.

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Tesco has a variety of plans including one option which offers free same-day delivery for £9.99 a month.

Delivery Saver gives customers access to any available delivery slot regardless of the price - as it's covered in their sign-up fee.

Those subscribed with the service also receive a number of other benefits, including early access to Christmas delivery slots.

Why was the service suspended?

Tesco revealed earlier this year there was 'exceptional demand for delivery slots' as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

As a result, the retailer temporarily paused new sign-ups to the service to help manage the availability of slots across the UK.

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Delivery Saver subscription fees were also suspended in April, with subscribers unable to benefit from the service since then.

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The retailer explained that by suspending the service it was able to ensure enough slots were available for the most vulnerable customers - many of whom were shielding or unable to visit the supermarket.

When is the service resuming?

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The supermarket confirmed recently that it would resume part of the Delivery Saver service this month.

Payments for customers on existing Any day or Midweek plans will restart from today (July 1), who will now be able to enjoy the benefits of their plans.

They will however remain suspended for same-day paid plan customers, as same-day deliveries are currently unavailable.

The retailer has also introduced a priority 4-week slot view, which allows Delivery Savers customers to see the 4th week of slots before everyone else - giving them the best chance of securing a slot in advance.

Tesco however has revealed that it won't be accepting new sign-ups until further notice.