A KINSON mother is furious after her six-year-old daughter received a first class book of stamps as compensation for money being lost in the post.

Helen Burgess, 25, has been waiting on a response from Royal Mail after daughter, Madison, received a birthday card through the letterbox earlier this month which had been opened before delivery and the money she had given had been removed.

Helen says that people now need to be aware that they may not get their money back and described the situation as ‘disgusting’.

She said: “I received the letter today from Royal Mail saying that they cannot reimburse Madison for the £10 note and they have provided her with a book of six first-class stamps.

“I’m not sure what she is supposed to do with them. She’s six years old and it’s not really appropriate. Now, I’ve got to explain she is not going to get any money to replace what was missing.

“I don’t even class the book of stamps a good-will gesture. Even if they had sent £10 worth of stamps, then I could have swapped them with Madison for a £10 note.

“If people are still going to send money, then they need to do so by Special Delivery or instead send a cheque.

“When I went to the sorting office after we received the envelope, the person that I spoke to said that they didn’t know why the postman didn’t report the damage to his manager.

“Now it’s coming up to Easter, I’m ringing around the family and asking them not to send cash through the post as we can’t guarantee that it will get here. I haven’t got any trust in the postal system anymore. I try to avoid it as much as is possible.”

Royal Mail spokesman Heulyn Gwyn Davies said: “Mrs Burgess is understandably disappointed by our refusal to offer any payment and I apologise for the upset caused. But we do not recommend cash to be sent through our regular mail.

“All valuable items, especially money and jewellery, must be sent using our special delivery service.”