A MOTHER is furious with a shaving company after her two-year-old daughter was found playing with a razor pushed through the letterbox of her Bolton home.

Julie Berry found her daughter, Megan, trying to dismantle the razor packaging after it had been sent to her house as part of a promotional campaign by Gillette.

Households in the Farnworth area were targeted by Gillette for the free samples, but Ms Berry has criticised the campaign, claiming her daughter could have been seriously injured.

She said: "I was in the kitchen making dinner. Megan was in the front room very quiet. I went in to see what she was up to. I couldn't believe it when I saw that she had a razor. She was tearing her way through the packaging. My heart went cold."

The alarmed parent asked her child where she got the razor. Ms Berry said: "She just pointed to the door and said: 'Postman Pat', which is her nickname for the postman."

Ms Berry found that other residents had received notification about the campaign and bags also asking them to select a free gift.

Ms Berry said: "For some reason, I didn't get the free bag, I just got a razor through my door. I'm not bothered about claiming compensation. I am just relieved that my daughter wasn't injured.

"I don't want it to happen to anyone else and I don't want another razor through my door."

She added: "I dread to think what could have happened if Megan had been left alone for a minute longer. Also, my two dogs always chew my mail. What if they had tried eating it?"

Richard Lindley, from Bolton Trading Standards, said he could not find a law which protects consumers from companies posting indiscriminate items through the letterbox.

Mr Lindley said: "A safety razor is not an offensive weapon and a shopkeeper can legally sell it to a child of seven. The only way people can protect themselves from receiving junk mail is to apply to a national mail preference register."

A Gillette spokesman said: "The company takes its safety obligations very seriously, which is why we work closely with Trading Standards in the UK to develop child-proof packaging for our razor products.

"The campaign we are undertaking offers householders the chance to receive a gift from the company. A gift is only left if the householder indicates that they wish to receive a sample of our products.

"Where the householder receives a Mach3 razor, only one blade is included and this is pre-fitted to the handle. No loose blades are enclosed.

"We have had no direct contact from the Bolton Evening News reader, but if she would like to contact us directly we would be happy to discuss her concerns more fully."

Although, I admit it is not a suitable toy for a child.

"But it is not a criminal offence to put one through a letterbox.