Royal Mail has apologised after one of its parcel delivery workers left a family's Christmas presents in a recycling bin.

The Warmans, based in Cardiff, receive gifts from their relatives in the US every year, but were out on a shopping trip when the postman arrived this festive season, the BBC reports.

When the family arrived home, they found a note from Royal Mail saying the gifts had been left in the "green bin" - a recycling container that had already been emptied.

"We complained to Royal Mail and they agreed it should never have been left like that," said Mrs Warman. "Who thinks that leaving presents in a bin is a good idea?"

A spokesman claimed parcel security is a priority for the firm, but admitted on this occasion proper procedure had not been followed.

This comes just one month after Royal Mail postman Michael Baxter received a 51-week suspended prison sentence following the discovery he had hoarded more than 7,000 parcels in his home and sister's car, the Yorkshire post reported. 

Author:  Paul Burn