Potato posted through Royal Mail makes journey across Irish Sea

The Maris Piper spud found itself on a long journey from Birmingham to Northern Ireland

Dermot Bradley was delighted with the Maris Piper potato posted from Birmingham to Northern Ireland (BBC Radio Foyle)

A potato posted with a Royal Mail stamp on it from England arrived in one piece at an address in Northern Ireland.

The Maris Piper spud turned up at the home of the Bradley family in Londonderry on Saturday, reports the BBC, with nothing but the stamp and their neatly written address on it.

There was a message too – explaining why the potato, a traditional staple of the Irish diet – had been sent on the nearly 300-mile journey across the Irish sea.

Dermot Bradley’s sister-in-law Edel, from Birmingham, had sent the vegetable as a thank you, to mark her appreciation at his help in organising her potato-themed big day which had taken place in Northern Ireland.

The Maris Piper had a stamp, address and message of thanks on it (BBC Radio Foyle)

Mr Bradley told the BBC: “We just erupted into laughter.

“The postie told me that in 14 years that was the most unusual delivery he ever made.”

Of his sister-in-law’s wedding, Mr Bradley added: “She’s a good practical Derry woman so she went and bought two stone of spuds to decorate the hotel."

“Perishable items including flowers, fresh fruit [and] vegetables” are on Royal Mail’s list of restricted items – those which are expected to be able to withstand a 48-hour journey with a first class stamp as a minimum, but which “must be suitably sealed to prevent leakage or tainting of other items” in a packaged box.