A Christmas card posted in Chelmsford in December 2002 has finally arrived in Broomfield - just in time for Midsummer Day

Pensioner Mary Bickmore was shocked when the pristine card from her sister-in-law, Win Johnson, of Springfield Park, came through her letter box six months late

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "We apologise. There are a number of possible reasons it could have been delayed.

Happy Christmas - Mary and Win with the envelope postmarked December 10, 2002

"A particular problem at Christmas can be when smaller envelopes end up inside bigger ones. The smaller letter can then go to a different address and it may not be put back into the postal system until a long while after."

Published Friday, June 27, 2003

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