STAFF at a York company today blasted Royal Mail after receiving a package containing a dead carnation.

The package, received at GFTrade, a firm of electrical distributors at Nether Poppleton, was part of a Royal Mail advertising stunt which went wrong.

Anna Ingram, secretary to the directors, said she opened an elaborate box which bore the message, "Freshly posted yesterday, on your desk today".

She said the publicity tool had failed dismally. It was a "real turn-off to customers".

A Royal Mail spokesman said the carnation was sent to business customers as part of a marketing campaign for its special delivery service.

Mrs Ingram said: "Looking at the state of it (the carnation), I very much doubt it was fresh yesterday and wonder how long it has been in the system.

"I mentioned to the postman that the flower really needed to be alive for the promotion to work."

She said she was surprised that a company claiming to be losing millions and wanting to raise postage should attempt such a promotion.

"How much money has been wasted on this exercise?

"As a publicity tool, it has failed dismally. In fact, I should think it has been a real turn-off to customers.

"I was absolutely staggered and everyone else who has seen it has said they can't believe Royal Mail has done this.

"As a customer you have got to hope that they are able to send out other packages in better nick."

The Royal Mail spokesman said: "The majority of our customers received a fresh carnation as part of this marketing campaign for special delivery.

"It is unfortunate, but not unexpected, that isolated incidents such as this would occur. We apologise to the customer concerned, but it was quite a large mail-out so must be seen in perspective."

Updated: 11:38 Wednesday, November 20, 2002