AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after a great-grandmother received an abusive Mother's Day card.

Dorothy Hopkins, from Woodley, was eagerly anticipating her mail, only to find one of her letters had already been opened.

A card from a member of her family had been intercepted and the 85-year-old was left horrified by a series of offensive slurs.

Royal Mail has promised to apologise to Mrs Hopkins in person, with a full investigation underway.

A company spokesman said: "We are very sorry to hear about this and the understandable distress that it has caused Mrs Hopkins.

"A representative from the company will be visiting Mrs Hopkins today in order to apologise in person for the incident.

“We are urgently investigating what has happened. It is a criminal offence to tamper with mail and anyone caught doing so will face serious disciplinary action.

"Royal Mail will always seek to prosecute the tiny minority of people who abuse their position of trust.

"The integrity, safety and security of mail is of the utmost importance to this business.

"Royal Mail will not allow the actions of any individual to damage the good reputation of our thousands of hard-working postmen and women, who do all they can to protect the mail and deliver it safely."