The widow of a former postman who is still waiting for a Mother's Day card to arrive has described Oxfordshire's postal service as "the worst it's ever been".

Diana Gough, whose husband Desmond worked at the Becket Street depot for 42 years, contacted the Oxford Mail after the county's first-class post was rated the fifth worst in Britain. Diana Gough, of Mill Street, Eynsham, has yet to see her son's Mother's Day card - even though it was posted more than a week ago.

Mrs Gough, 65, who was widowed 11 years ago, said: "Desmond worked at the Oxford branch for 42 years and never - and I mean never - has the Royal Mail been so bad.

"In all the years he was there our mail was delivered promptly and efficiently.

"The service certainly is not the service it was, even though we are told it is undergoing a wide-ranging modernisation. I still have not received my Mother's Day card.

"It's so important to me, as I'm now on my own, so you can imagine how upset I am.

"My son has said 'mum, the mail has just gone to pot since dad died'. In the last three days my mail arrived at 1.30pm, noon and 11.30am - does the Royal Mail think this is a modern service?"

Royal Mail spokesman Jane Thomas said: "We are always concerned to learn of problems with the delivery of mail."

Customers experiencing problems with mail delivery should call Royal Mail on 08457 740740.