A HOLMFIRTH man says he has been left almost £300 out of pocket after a parcel was delivered to his home and left by a dustbin.

The package containing glasses, prescription sunglasses and contact lenses went missing after being left outside Jonathan Ridings' Huddersfield Road home.

But despite repeated appeals for compensation and intervention by the postal watchdog Postwatch, he has still only received £28 from Royal Mail.

"I've followed every formal grievance procedure, but despite having a verbal acknowledgement of liability and apology from staff, they won't give me more than £28," he said.

Mr Ridings, 37, who works with older people with mental health problems for Kirklees Council Social Services, said anyone walking near his home could have taken the parcel.

He said a handwritten envelope pushed through his door said the parcel had been left by the bin, even though a catflap in the door was large enough for the parcel to be put through.

"I am very annoyed and would alert anyone posting valuables to be aware they may only receive a derisory sum, if the items are lost," said Mr Ridings.

His comments follow months of problems with postal deliveries in the Holme Valley after the introduction of a single delivery system.

Last week, a Honley man complained that he had waited for a parcel for more than two weeks.

He added that there was a backlog of undelivered parcels at the Holmfirth sorting office.

Royal Mail admitted there had been problems, mainly due to high staff sickness levels.

A Royal Mail spokeswoman said: "As a gesture of goodwill, Mr Ridings has been sent a cheque for £28. This is the maximum compensation payable for first-class mail which goes astray.

"Normally, this would be payable to the sender, but can be paid to the recipient if they provide details about where and when the item was posted."

She added that in some cases higher compensation might be possible. Information about these was available from post offices.