When a recordable postcard fell through Richard Harrison's letterbox he expected to hear the voice of his fiance, Vanessa Sercombe.

Richard Harrison and Vanessa Sercombe Instead he was shocked to hear a woman ranting loudly in a foreign language. So, he contacted the Royal Mail, demanding to know how the card could have been tampered with.

Mr Harrison, a software support consultant, waited in vain for months for an explanation -- and only received an apology after contacting the Oxford Mail. Miss Sercombe, 29, a senior account manager for Alden Translations who lives in St Ebbe's, Oxford, bought the postcard, on which a personal message can be recorded, in Berlin.

She posted it in Oxford when she returned from Germany, where she was visiting to take designs for her engagement ring. Mr Harrison, 36, of Foxglove Close, Greater Leys, said: "When I listened to the card it was not what I expected to hear and I found it offensive.

"At first I went to the police, but they told me to take it up with the Royal Mail. I rang the Royal Mail's complaints division and was told it was very serious and was assured they would do their utmost to find out what happened.

"I sent it to them by registered post, asking them to send it back. I rang two weeks later to find out what was happening, and was told they had tried to contact the manager in Oxford, but hadn't had any joy."

Mr Harrison received a letter a month later, apologising for the delay, and telling him they would be in touch as soon as they could. That was the last he heard.

He was planning to contact Post- watch, the postal service consumer body.

After being contacted by the Mail, a Royal Mail spokesman said: "Despite a thorough investigation we are unable to explain how or where this item of mail was interfered with. We apologise to Mr Harrison and his fiance for what has happened and also for the delay in responding. They will be getting a letter from us."