A TEN-year-old’s birthday has been “ruined” after Argos handed his present to a stranger.

Paige Jeffery ordered a PlayStation5 games console, via the Argos App, on December 21, and received a confirmation email saying it would be ready for collection the following day from the store in Pipps Hill, Basildon.

But 40 minutes later she received another email reporting it had been collected.

Argos have said the problem is no longer their responsibility - but they still expect her to pay for the purchase.

Paige, whose stepson will celebrate his birthday in two weeks’ time, told the Echo: “I feel gutted because we haven’t told him what has happened yet.

“We don’t want to disappoint him as I know he would really want one, and it is his 10th birthday so we wanted to make it special for him.

“But Argos have ruined it.

“I contacted Argos straight after the email saying it had been collected, telling them it wasn’t me and that I can’t understand how someone can collect it when it isn’t ready either.”

Paige also attempted to resolve the issue by visiting the store, but staff were equally unhelpful.

She said: “They kept blaming me and telling me I must have sent someone to collect it, even though I have an email saying it wouldn’t be ready until the 22nd.

“They checked the CCTV which showed it was handed over to a random gentleman, without even showing the Argos Card that I used to order it, even though that is their policy.

“Yet they still won’t help me.”

An Argos spokesman said: “We’re in touch with Paige to explain that items can only be collected using the code and pin that is sent to the contact details which are provided by the customer at the time of purchase.

“We’ve recommended she reports this incident to the police, and we’ll support the investigation in any way we can.”

The incident has now been reported to Action Fraud.