A gran with a broken arm was turned away from a post office for trying to send cards that were too SMALL.

Jaqueline Mellor, 66, of Woods Road, Caversham, visited her local post office in Henley Road and thought she was doing the right thing by posting cards early for Christmas but was told her cards did not meet the requirements for Airmail.

She was trying to send the charity cards she bought from Waitrose to friends and family in America, Australia and Italy and was shocked when she was told that they could not be accepted as they were just shy of the minimum 14cm x 9cm (5.5ins x 3.5ins) permitted size.

Mrs Mellor, who until her retirement worked at the Chartered Institute Marketing in Cookham, said:

"I'm incensed by it, especially as I have a broken arm at the moment and I'm doing everything left handed - writing more cards is not an option for me! I was trying to send light cards because otherwise you get hammered on postage."

Angry Mrs Mellor bought stamps and put the cards in the post box regardless. She added: "It will be interesting to see if they get through because I certainly won't be sending another card."

The pensioner sends cards to her relatives abroad every year and has never been faced with these issues before. Mrs Mellor not only has to deal with the restrictions of her broken arm but has also cared for her husband Steve full time since he was diagnosed with a lung condition.

Mrs Mellor, who has four children and seven grandchildren, broke her arm last month.

She said: "It's just hard work at the moment and now I have to deal with this as well. I've written to Waitrose too to point out they have no warnings on the boxes or anything on the displays."

Waitrose charity cards raise money for Scope, British Heart Foundation, the Wildlife Trust and Diabetes UK.

Royal Mail spokeswoman Valerie Antoine said: "Minimum sizing for international letters is part of the Universal Postal Union agreement that Royal Mail must comply with. Customers wishing find out about international restrictions should visit our website at www.royalmail.com or call our customer services helpline on 08457 740740."