Seven sets of dentures destined for patients in a West Oxfordshire village have got lost in the post and could be among millions of items at Cowley, Oxford's main sorting office.

The false teeth were posted first class by dental technician Stephen Ward, pictured, on June 19 to a Hook Norton dental practice, but they have not arrived.

Mr Ward, of Aston, who makes the dentures at his workshop in the village, said he was desperate to recover the dentures as some patients were threatening legal action. He said he would normally send the items by special delivery, but for various reasons this time failed to do so.

"I wish I had driven the parcel over to Chipping Norton instead," he said.

He added he was redoing the work, but was hoping the missing parcels would turn up.

He said: "One of the patients has a 60th birthday coming up while another is waiting to go on a cruise and not having their false teeth is a massive problem."

Royal Mail spokesman Jane Thomas said staff would watch out for the parcels.