RED-faced Royal Mail bosses have apologised after a postal worker left a Christmas present in a full recycling bin – that was then collected by the council.

Adam Teale said he was disappointed to discover an Amazon parcel was taken by South Lakeland District Council after the cardboard package was placed in a blue recycling box, which was full and ready for collection, outside his house in Little Urswick.

The 27-year-old nurse was working a 12-hour shift and was not at home when delivery was attempted.

He did not see a note which had been posted through the front door until the following day - by which time the box had already been emptied.

Mr Teale visited the Royal Mail sorting office in Ulverston where he said he was told a recycling box was a safe place to leave items.

But a Royal Mail spokesman said the company’s official policy when customers are not at home was to leave parcels with neighbours.

“I don’t want other people to be inconvenienced by similar issues when expecting parcels,” said Mr Teale.

“Other parcels from different companies have been safely left with neighbours. I don’t understand why this was any different.

“I would have been more than happy to collect the parcel from the sorting office at a later date. But I had to re-order a friend’s present which didn’t arrive in time for Christmas.”

After The Mail contacted Royal Mail, a company representative contacted Mr Teale to offer his apologies and a goodwill gesture of £30.

The cost of the item was £11.78.

A Royal Mail spokesman said an investigation was under way.

“We are very concerned to hear about Mr Teale’s experience and we are investigating this case as a matter of urgency,” he said.

“Our policy, which we regularly reinforce to our delivery colleagues, is to deliver all parcels and letters to our customers’ addresses – or to a neighbour. We would like to apologise to Mr Teale for failing to follow the appropriate process and we will be getting in touch with him directly to discuss the matter further.”