A PENSIONER left out of pocket by the Royal Mail when £70 was lost in the post has been sent just a complimentary book of stamps as compensation.

Mrs Sarah Anne Hall (81), of Huntley House, Chesham Fold, Bury, sent the cash by recorded delivery for three birthday presents in January.

But the birthday presents never arrived and when close friend Margaret Whaley complained on Mrs Hall's behalf to the Royal Mail, she was shocked when Mrs Hall received a book of stamps as an apology.

Mrs Whaley, of Sefton Street in Bury, said: "Mrs Hall is very upset about this, to say the least.

"It is a lot of money to someone on a pension and the attitude of the customer services was 'it's not our problem if it hasn't come, it hasn't come'. To be sent a book of stamps to compensate for the loss of £70 is totally wrong after she had paid extra to ensure it was delivered."

A Royal Mail spokesperson apologised for the lost of Mrs Hall's birthday gifts, but said that rather than using Recorded Delivery, which is sent with the normal post and requires a signature from the recipient as proof of delivery, Mrs Hall should have used the Special Delivery service.

He said: "I am sorry to hear Mrs Hall's items went astray. Unfortunately she chose to use the wrong service for sending cash or anything of value, so she was not covered by Royal Mail's compensation scheme and she was sent a book of stamps as a goodwill gesture. We always advise customers wanting to send anything valuable to use the Special Delivery service, which includes a form of compensation."

Mrs Whaley responded: "This still doesn't explain where the letter has gone. Mrs Hall paid for it to get there the next day and now she has lost out. It is a shame and she won't be using the free stamps."