Residents hoping to get that last-minute gift in the mail are urged to do so quickly as the shipping deadline approaches.

The post office on Belden Avenue in Norwalk was swamped Thursday with residents trying to get their packages in the mail ahead of Christmas. 

According to the United States Postal Service, the deadline for Priority Mail has passed so the only way for gifts to arrive by Monday is Priority Mail Express. The deadline for priority mail express is Friday. FedEx overnight packages received today as well as UPS Next Day Air will also make it to their destinations in time for the holiday.

Residents at the Norwalk post office say the reason they waited so long was sheer procrastination.

Between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, the Postal Service expects to deliver more than 15 billion pieces of mail, including 850 million packages.