Amazon has announced it is hiring more than 15,000 seasonal staff across the UK to meet customer demand in the runup to Christmas.

The US internet retailer, which is expanding operations in the UK, said it expected hundreds of the temporary staff would later be able to take up permanent jobs.

Amazon said it was creating a variety of roles across its eight "fulfilment centres" and its Edinburgh customer service centre.

The eight distribution sites are in Doncaster, Dunfermline, Gourock, Inverclyde, Hemel Hempstead, Milton Keynes, Peterborough, Rugeley, Staffordshire, and Swansea Bay.

Catherine McDermott, director of operations at Amazon.co.uk. said: "On our busiest shopping day last Christmas, customers ordered a total of 3.5m items during one 24-hour period at a rate of 44 items a second.

"During the Christmas season, seasonal associates play a critical role in making sure we meet increased demand from customers.

"As we continue to expand our UK operations, we expect many hundreds of these temporary associates to move into permanent positions as has been the case in previous years."

Amazon said that last year it hired 10,000 seasonal staff in the runup to the festive season and by the end of January had offered roles to 1,000 temporary workers.

Recruitment for the latest roles will be ongoing in the run-up to the Christmas period and prospective employees can apply online.

Amazon, which recently opened a 20,000 sq metre (210,000 sq ft) office in central London as it eyes UK expansion, has more than 6,000 permanent employees in the UK.