A mother's plans to take her disabled children on holiday were almost ruined after money went missing in the post.

Julie Howells, 23, of Kingfisher Green, Greater Leys, Oxford, posted £140 worth of postal orders for a holiday with her two children and her husband, Lee, 32, to Devon in August.

Charlie Louise, five, has cerebral palsy and Sian, two in June, had major heart surgery when only a month old. Mrs Howells was advised by the cashier to send the postal orders by recorded delivery, which meant they should have been signed for when they arrived.

But they never arrived and Mrs Howells had to borrow the money from her cousin to pay for the holiday.

She said: "I wasn't prepared to let my children go without a holiday. "I have tried to get my money back but I was told by the Royal Mail that I can only get it back if the postal orders have not been cashed. I am not happy with the service I have had.

"They have messed me around for three weeks."

David Fitz, of Royal Mail, said: "We are checking where they have been sent to.

"She has used the wrong service. She should have used special delivery or registered delivery which are both insured services."

Story date: Thursday 06 May

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