Birthday card delivered almost nine years late

(L-R) Richard and his son Alfie with the card sent for his first birthday

A father has said his 10-year-old son was "gobsmacked" to receive a birthday card almost nine years late.

Richard, from Reading, Berkshire, said he recognised his sister's handwriting on the envelope, but had to pay £2.50 as the stamp was no longer valid.

The letter was address to his son, Alfie, who the 57-year-old said was left with his “jaw wide-open”.

A spokesperson for Royal Mail said it has "rectified the situation".

The card read: “To Alfie, lots of love on your first birthday. From Auntie Sally and Uncle Pat.”

Richard said: “I was quite surprised, because Alfie’s birthday had come and gone six months earlier in October.

“I read the card again, and it was for his first birthday, almost nine years late.

“When we realised it had been sent nearly nine years ago, I told my sister who lives in Yorkshire and she said ‘I bet you thought I hadn’t bothered’.”

Alfie was "gobsmacked" to receive a card from his auntie almost nine years late

The family was refunded by Royal Mail £10.80 and was sent a book of eight first-class stamps.

It also sent Alfie a £10 cheque as a gesture of goodwill.

The service said it “could not speculate” on why the letter remained undelivered for nearly a decade.

Richard said: “I find it very amusing to think it could have been lying on the floor of a collection office, or someone moved some furniture to find it all these years later and it’s only just found its way back into the system.”

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “We deliver billions of letters successfully every year. Unfortunately, on this occasion, the customer did not receive this high standard of service."