Try Not To Be Alarmed, But There's A National Biscuit Shortage

The scream face emoji is appropriate

First we had to face a potential prosecco shortage (just in time for summer), next a winter gin scarcity made headlines and now a biscuit drought has hit the UK. 

Yup, BISCUIT DROUGHT. Insert scream face emoji. 

Don't panic (just yet) but Custard creams, ginger nuts, chocolate bourbons and water crackers are in very short supply. 

We would have a cup of tea to try and calm us down, but that would probably make our desire for a ginger nut even more intense. Anyone else starting to feel a little hysterical? 

How an earth has this biscuit shortage come to pas, you say? 

Storms Desmond and Eva recently wreaked havoc in Carlisle and one of the places that was hit really badly by this major weather front was the United Biscuits factory in Cumbria.

You’ve already put two and two together, haven’t you… 

But for clarification: the biscuit factory was hit by serious flooding and, as a result, has been closed since December. And when the factory isn’t up and running no biscuits can be produced, none at all. 

In a statement, United Biscuits said: 'Due to floods in Carlisle we are experiencing a shortage of a number products under the McVitie's, Jacob's, Carr's and Crawford's brands.

'We apologise if consumers are finding it difficult to get hold of some of these products and we are working hard at our Carlisle site to resume normal service as soon as possible.'

United Biscuits has also confirmed that production has restarted but it could take several months for usual service to return. That's, like 60 whole days without bourbons. If you’re crying right now, we are definitely not judging you.

We're going to have to rethink our tea-time ritual and take a vow to do some serious biscuit stockpiling once supermarket shelves are replenished.