ROYAL Mail has apologised to a dad and given him compensation after a postman called his disabled daughter a 'spastic'.

James Beresford, 35, and his two year-old daughter Sophie, who suffers from cerebral palsy and a condition which affects her windpipe, were trying to park outside Malvern Link post office when they saw a Royal Mail van in a disabled space.

When Mr Beresford raised the issue, the driver told him that he was loading and as a Royal Mail driver he had the right to park wherever he wanted.

Mr Beresford said he then explained that the spot was only for drivers with a disabled badge and showed him the one allocated to Sophie, to which the Royal Mail employee laughed and told him to “f*** off and man up”.

Malvern resident Mr Beresford, who works in Worcester, said the driver then began filming him and Sophie with his mobile phone while laughing at them, and called the toddler "a spastic".

After the incident, Royal Mail sent a letter to Mr Beresford apologising for the distress he and Sophie – who has tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) – suffered as well as a compensatory cheque of £250.

The letter says: “Following our investigations into the December 10 incident, on behalf of Royal Mail I would like to apologise for the distress and upset this has caused you and your daughter.

“Furthermore, our drivers should never park in a disabled bay and this stipulation forms part of the training they receive.

“In relation to the employee concerned, he is receiving additional training to reinforce these points and as a precaution the wider office has also been reminded of our policy around disabled parking bays.”

When asked if he was happy with the result of the investigation, Mr Beresford said: “It is a bit of a case of yes and no, to be honest."

Referring to some of the negative comments readers posted on the Gazette Facebook page in response to the initial story on the postman verbally abusing him and his daughter, Mr Beresford said: "I am happy that the matter has been dealt with but I have had numerous people say I used my daughter’s disability as a tool for free attention.”