Scores of the Boston Globe's reporters are preparing to personally hand out Sunday's edition after a distribution crisis left readers across the city without their daily paper.

The extraordinary move comes after a week of tumult at the paper after it switched delivery companies, resulting in outcry from thousands of subscribers who failed to receive their daily papers.

In an attempt to ensure the Sunday edition reaches readers, union leaders at the Boston Globe appealed to staff members to gather on Saturday night to help deliver the paper. Reports said about 100 employees had volunteered.

Boston Newspaper Guild president Scott Stevens sent an email appealing for editorial staff to help get the paper out, saying the company was in "crisis mode".

In an email, reported by the Boston Business Journal, he advised volunteers to "come equipped with the basic tools of the trade. Make sure you have a flashlight and GPS".

Staff at the paper took to Twitter to voice their support for the unorthodox arrangement and dismay at the distribution problems.

On December 31st, the Boston Globe said 5 per cent of its subscribers did not receive copies of the paper "on a timely basis" and apologised for the disruption.

The news that reporters were taking on the role of delivery boy has prompted much comment on social media.

Guardian