NESTLE has apologised for “hole-ly” unacceptable delays in sending a £10 prize to a schoolboy in a Polo Mint competition.

James Barnard, who lives in Surrey, found a green Polo mint in 1996, when he was aged 11, and the York confectionery firm was offering £10 cash prizes for anyone finding coloured Polos in their packets.

He says he excitedly sent a letter to the company – along with his prizewinning Polo – expecting to be sent his £10 cash prize but never received it.

Now, at the age of 28, he has written again to Nestle to complain that it still owed him the money.

James wrote: “You left me with a subconscious feeling of loss, a void in my life, like the void in the centre of your sweet.”

To his surprise, the company sent him a cheque for £10, along with a packet of complimentary Polos and a letter of apology.

A Nestlé spokesman said: “We’re delighted James got back in contact to let us know about this oversight. It is hole-ly unacceptable and thankfully a very rare occurrence and we can only apologise for it taking so long!”