I'm going away in a few weeks but I've just seen that my passport is out of date. What can I do? - Susan Briggs, Cheltenham

Sunday Times travel expert Richard Green responds: If you are off abroad in less than two weeks, then you will have to visit your nearest Passport Office and use the One-day Premium service. It costs £114 at any of the seven walk-in offices ­ London, Liverpool, Peterborough, Glasgow, Newport, Belfast, and Durham. Booking an appointment before you arrive is essential.

If you have just over two weeks to go, there is a one-week fast track renewal service for £97, available via post direct to the Passport Office, or to be safe, through the Check & Send scheme.

Using it means that you'll know everything is correct with your application before you send it off, as a trained member of Post Office staff checks that you have filled in the form correctly, that the photographs are acceptable, and the payment is right ­ with a signature on the cheque.

There is a £6.85 fee for this service, payable at your post office.

Otherwise, renewing a passport generally takes three weeks by post, or two weeks using the 'Check & Send' service.

Either way, get all the information you need, and the passport application form online, from the Identity and Passport Service (0300 222 0000, ), or from one of over 2000 participating Post Offices (www.postoffice.co.uk).

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