HM Passport Office has issued an alert as travellers may be bet with "delays and issues at border control" this summer.

A valid passport is needed for anyone travelling abroad, with the document usually having an expiry date of 10 years for adults, or five years for children.

Since changes that came in earlier this year, a new or replacement British passport costs £102 when applying online, or £115.50 via a paper form.

A child's passport costs £66.50 with an online application, or £80 using the paper form.

Once you obtain a new or replacement passport there is something you need to do to validate it.

A new post on X, formerly Twitter, reads: "Have you signed your passport? Passports must be signed on the holder's signature line before travel.

"Failure to do so may lead to delays or issues at border control. Check [gov.uk] and make sure your passport is ready for travel."

Most people over the age of 11 need to sign their passport, although this is not the case if you can't sign due to a disability.

In this case, the passport will show 'the holder is not required to sign' on the page with your name and photo on it.

You must use a black ballpoint pen and sign on the holder's signature line.

Passports that need to be signed are not valid without a signature.