Christmas card costs £33 to send

Mrs Grimes said she has been left feeling "vulnerable"

A Kent pensioner has paid almost half her weekly pension just to send a Christmas card to her son in France.

Joyce Grimes from Sevenoaks asked staff at the main post office to make sure the card arrived as quickly as possible - and was charged £33.60 for a courier.

The 78-year-old said she did not query the amount as she felt under pressure.

The Post Office said options were limited if the card was to arrive before Christmas. It has since apologised and offered a refund.

'Gob-smacked'

Mrs Grimes said she felt she had to go ahead with sending the card because she felt pressurised by the "huge queue" behind her.

"I couldn't hear what the girl was saying properly because of the glass... I just wanted to get out.

"My tummy was doing somersaults," she added.

The Post Office said the last date for normal post to France was 14 December.

The next available air mail delivery would have cost £3.90 but that could not guarantee arrival in time for Christmas.

Her daughter, Lesley Grant, said she was "absolutely gobsmacked".

"I couldn't believe they allowed an old age pensioner to spend £33.60 on sending a Christmas card - that's half my mother's pension."

But despite opting for the courier service, the card has yet to reach her son Martin.