A POSTAL worker put a mum’s prized parcel in a garden waste bin as a “safe place”... on collection day.

Canvey mum Kiri Monk was left in total disbelief to see a note from Royal Mail to say the package was left in the bin, just as she realised the garden waste had been emptied.

The delivery, a limited edition craft advent calendar kit worth £65, was bought by the 39-year-old as a special treat.

She said it’s left her feeling disappointed as she will not get an exact replacement.

She said: “It was on Tuesday which is bin day and I took my boy to school and then a bit later I heard the post come, it was other parcels from the same company.

“Then at about 11.30am a card from the Royal Mail postal worker was put through the door to say the parcel was in a safe place in the bin.

“It was then that I realised the bin had been emptied. I did check but it wasn’t there.

“I thought they wouldn’t have done it at first, the bin was three quarters full. I couldn’t believe it and was fuming.

“We called Royal Mail and was told it had to be the company that dealt with it and we also tried the council to see if it had been spotted.

“It was a sewing advent calender for myself as a little treat and from Craft Sew and So and the firm is going to see if it can get me another one sent over.”

She added: “They should have thought about it and it was expensive, about £65, which is quite a lot for an advent calender.

“It is disappointing and I worry about the next one and whether I will get it or whether the same thing will happen.

“It’s just such a shame and it was going to be really exciting. I will still be shopping online - it won’t be putting me off.”

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “Our postmen and women across the UK are consistently reminded of the appropriate action to take if a customer is unavailable to accept a delivery. The options available include delivery to a neighbour, a nominated neighbour or to an agreed safe place. If these options are not available then the item should be returned to the local delivery office for collection. We would like to apologise to the customer concerned and will be getting in touch with them directly to discuss the matter further.”