These fascinating pictures offer a unique look behind the scenes as online retail giant Amazon gears up for the busy Christmas period.

More than a thousand staff and additional seasonal helpers are busily preparing and wrapping sought-after seasonal gifts at the largest British distribution centre in Dunfermline.

The centre is the size of 14 football pitches and full of goods that will be delivered to customers in time for the festive season.

Amazon has hired hundreds of people to assist the 1,000 permanent staff members in the build-up to Christmas.

In recent years the retail giant sold a staggering 5.5 million items over a 24-hour period in the UK on Black Friday- amounting to 64 sales every second.

Workers have already got into the festive spirit by wearing Santa hats while they work through more than one million items worth of stock.

A look out over the warehouse at the centre and you'd be forgiven for thinking it was an oversized Christmas grotto.

Row upon row of items and gifts cover the entire area from floor to ceiling as the early birds send in their presents with less than a month to go until the big day.

Workers quickly make their way around the aisles collecting items before sending them to the massive on-site dispatch hall to be packaged.

And just like Santa's elves, staff are wrapping items in Christmas boxes for customers.

The company are still working through millions of orders made during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend.

Doug Gurr, Amazon's country manager for the UK, says Black Friday was their busiest day of the year.

He said: "Our extended Black Friday Sale event provided record savings to customers as they enjoyed twice as many deals as the previous year.

"Amazon Marketplace sellers saw record sales during the event as over 1,000 small British businesses offered great deals.

"On behalf of all of us at Amazon and the many small businesses on Amazon Marketplace, we would like to thank our customers for choosing to shop with us and for once again making Black Friday our busiest day of the year.

"Cyber Monday 2016 was one of the busiest days we have ever seen.

"Christmas shopping is now well under way and there's still time to take advantage of great savings on gifts.

"Cyber Deals Week is on now, offering thousands of deals, including electronics, fashion, beauty and entertainment from big name brands and marketplace businesses."