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Food

Brits Just Received a Bailout of Biscuits from Dubai

Biscuits are a cornerstone of the British diet but have been very hard to find for residents of the North West of England.
Photo via Flickr user Jon Bunting

Fancy a Jammie Dodger? How about a Toffypop or a Tunnock's wafer?

These biscuits, and many others, are ubiquitous in the UK and a cornerstone of the British diet but have been very hard to find for residents of the North West of England.

Ever since brutal storms caused widespread floods that paralyzed the United Biscuit factory in Carlisle, there has been a severe shortage of classics like McVitie's Ginger Nuts and Crawford's Custard Creams.

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The region was all but put on high alert—and now help has arrived in the form of two Boeing 777s loaded with an emergency supply of British biscuits, which recently landed at Doncaster's Robin Hood Airport.

READ: Britain Is Suffering a Biscuit Shortage and People Are Freaking Out

Dayle Hauxwell, the pun-loving cargo manager for Doncaster Sheffield Airport, told the Doncaster Free Press that the airport was used to receiving strange cargo but that this was definitely the first shipment of cookies they've received.

"We've been delighted to welcome two flights from Emirates full of the nation's favourite biscuits," he said "We've welcomed all sorts of different cargo over the years, from a pride of lions to last year's consignment of tea. This time we've quite literally 'taken the biscuit!'"

He also had some good news for United Biscuit lovers. "There has been a lot of press coverage about Britain's biscuit shortage following the floods in December and we are pleased to hear that the factories hope to be up and running again this month."

The biscuit bailout was also historic in that it marked the first flight from Dubai-based SkyCargo, something Hauxwell took as an important gesture of goodwill. "We were delighted to welcome Emirates to Doncaster Sheffield Airport," he said. "Thanks to this new relationship the Great British public have been able to enjoy a biscuit with their cuppa."