MISSING a parcel delivery while you are at home is annoying - but a postman has been caught posting a missed delivery card without attempting to deliver the package to the addressee who was inside the house at the time.

In the time-stamped CCTV stills which will trouble anyone awaiting important Christmas deliveries, the Royal Mail postman can be seen rushing towards the house with only the Sorry We Missed You card in his hands.

He is also not carrying the electronic pad to collect the signature and returns to his vehicle just seconds later before driving off.

Royal Mail has apologised for the inconvenience caused to the customer.

They believe it was an isolated incident and have promised to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

John Carnie was at home in the Lansdowne Road area with his partner when they heard the card asking them to collect the parcel from the Royal Mail office in Wainwright Road, Warndon Villages, being pushed through their letterbox.

The couple claim the postman did not attempt to ring the doorbell or knock the door to hand over the package.

In fact, when Mr Carnie checked CCTV footage captured outside his house on Friday, he could clearly see the postman was not even carrying a parcel and took just under 20 seconds to drop off the card and leave.

He said he appreciated staff were busy at this time of year but it was no excuse to not try to deliver mail.

"[The missed delivery card] was timed at 12.30pm but my CCTV camera noted it was in fact 12.42pm.

"The van stops outside my house, the postman sprints out of his van leaving the van door wide open and 20 seconds later he drives off.

"We were both in the house - he didn't knock and he definitely did not ring the bell.

"Is it now the policy of Royal Mail not to deliver but make the customers collect?

"They might as well get rid of the vans and just use the normal postman to leave a card stating a parcel is waiting for you.

"That would reduce the costs of running Royal Mail."

Val Bodden, Royal Mail spokeswoman, said: “Royal Mail apologises to the customer for the inconvenience caused on this occasion.

"We believe it was an isolated incident.

"Nevertheless, we are looking into the circumstances surrounding this matter as we always want to provide the best customer service possible and deliver first time, every time.”