@harlynb thanks, sadly its my sons passport so he doesnt have any other form of ID and think even tho a passport isnt technically needed some form of ID is.
On a brighter note, the Durham office phoned this morning and my passport was approved, printed and shipped next day (meaning it should arrive tomorrow) i have had the Royal Mail Txt as well saying it will arive before 1pm tommorow.
For all those still waiting, I don’t know which of these made the difference in the end but as well as calling constantly, I also got my MP involved and emailed all three of these emails (twice) with the situation marking it as Urgent and setting the importance to “High”
DurhamUpgradeTeam@hmpo.gov.uk <DurhamUpgradeTeam@hmpo.gov.uk>
EscalatedService@hmpo.gov.uk <EscalatedService@hmpo.gov.uk>
ExpeditedService <ExpeditedService@hmpo.gov.uk>
When I rang them yesterday, the particulaly usless person, who wouldnt even put me through to anyone else and claimed they had no ability to do so, did say that they where working on passports traveling in the within the next couple of days and with my travel on Saturday I assume that this is why it got sorted today.
Just to confirm I was not asked for any proof, and infact was very honest with them that it was my intent to travel on saturday (thats when work AL is booked and when family events are happening) and made the point that I couldnt book it prior to that due to not having the passport and not being able to risk losing the money and that this was in fact the advice that the Passport Office itself provides.