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A newlywed was shocked to be issued with a passport with the wrong woman's photograph - just six weeks before she is due to jet off on holiday.

Natalie Peel fears she may have to cancel her trip to Spain following the Passport Office gaffe.

The 27-year-old teacher sent off her passport for renewal and a name change at the beginning of June after getting married.

Wrong photo: Natalie Peel pictured with her new passport - with another woman's picture inside

But when she received it back she was amazed to discover another woman pictured alongside her name and other personal details.

Natalie, from Bacup, Lancashire, is now facing a race against time to get the error corrected.

Natalie said: 'It's disgraceful, especially when you put a certain amount of trust in the government.
'I didn't even think twice about sending my details to them.

'I sent my details in confidence and I expect them to be handled securely.

'God knows where my picture has ended up.'

'That's not me': The photo inside blonde Natalie's new passport

Natalie, a primary school teacher in Rochdale, sent her passport, marriage certificate and two photographs through to the Post Office passport checking service to ensure her details were received correctly.

She said: 'When I got it back and realised, I was furious.

'At first I thought they had sent me an example passport to show what the new one would look like because it was so ridiculous to think they had attached the wrong picture.

'I'm angry thinking my details are not safe.'

When Natalie  complained to the Passport Office she was initially advised to visit the offices in Liverpool to rectify the error.

She said: 'At first they said I would need to bring the passport to Liverpool between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.

'I work full time so that's not possible. All the woman on the phone said to me was 'oh, that's an error, you'll have to send it back'. There was no apology.'

A HM Passport Office spokesman said an immediate investigation has been launched.

He said: 'Ensuring that passports are issued correctly is an absolute priority and any breaches of our high standards are examined thoroughly.

'We are making contact with Ms Peel to ensure that a replacement passport is issued in time for her to go on holiday.'