A Perthshire general election candidate has said a Royal Mail blunder could lose her votes.

Independent candidate Sally Hughes told the PA her leaflets had been posted through doors in the neighbouring constituency of Angus and Perthshire Glens rather than the Perth and Kinross-shire seat she is contesting.

Leaflets sent out by former MP and SNP Perth and Kinross-shire candidate Pete Wishart have also been misdelivered.

Every candidate standing in a constituency is entitled to one free leaflet delivery by Royal Mail.

Retired Tayside police officer Ms Hughes, however, pointed out that her election material was put through letter boxes in Spittalfield, Meikleour, Caputh, Stanley and Bankfoot within Angus and Perthshire Glens constituency.

She has complained to the Royal Mail and the Electoral Commission.

South of the border, it emerged last week, leaflets sent out by Conservative candidate, and party chairman, Richard Holden, ended up at addresses in a neighbouring Essex constituency.

Ms Hughes – who has funded her campaign through a Crowdfunder and her own money – said: “As an Independent candidate name recognition is a much bigger issue for me than an existing sitting candidate, and financial resources more limited.

“The Royal Mail leaflet drop was a core part of my campaign and my team and I went to considerable efforts to ensure we got the leaflets to Royal Mail in good time to maximise exposure for the postal voters.

“It’s fair to say this effort has been hindered.

“Likewise delayed delivery elsewhere makes it impossible for me to identify areas with no leaflet cover and backfill them personally.

“It’s becoming a legitimate worry that a large part of my leaflets will not be delivered before voting day on July 4.

“The election process, and tax payer, have paid for Royal Mail to do this duty, as a trusted vendor, but I paid for the printing of the leaflets myself, including re-print and, along with my team, am working round the clock to make up for this error”

A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross-shire SNP candidate Pete Wishart said a couple of thousand of his leaflets had been delivered to Angus and Perthshire Glens households.

He added: “It confuses voters. For every leaflet going to Angus and Perthshire Glens, one hasn’t been delivered to the correct constituency. It affects the campaign. It’s another example of Royal Mail failing in their commitment to the electorate which we have seen in postal votes as well.”

And Ms Hughes said an Angus and Perthshire Glens voter in the Meikleour area contacted her to say he had received two of her leaflets on separate occasions.

She said: “I can understand the first misdelivery, as much as I don’t like it, but a second set of leaflets to be sent out after Royal Mail had been informed of the issue is deeply concerning.

“I have the highest regard for our posties. I’m aware they are under extreme pressures as their company changes structures.

“I believe firmly this is a management issue.”

Royal Mail admitted there had been a mistake.

A spokesperson said: “I can confirm this was an isolated issue.

“It has since been rectified and the leaflets have now been delivered to the correct addresses.”