With Easter just around the corner, most people would be over the moon to receive several kilos of chocolate in the post.

But for Barry Whitford the surprise package he hadn't asked for brought back a bitter memory.

It is the second time this year workers at Parcelforce have muddled deliveries to his home in College Road, Brighton.

And instead of returning the package, containing 144 body-building bars, to the depot, he has decided to deliver it to the correct address himself.

Special effects manager Mr Whitford, 37, was dumb-founded in January when the firm told him he had to travel to South Africa to complain about a lost package - which one of their delivery men had handed to a passer-by, who then vanished.

After contacting The Argus, the matter was resolved and he was compensated for the loss of his souvenir antiques.

But weeks after the muddle had been cleared up, Mr Whitford was stunned when another Parcelforce van arrived with a stereo he had ordered - and the rogue box of chocs, which he most definitely had not.

He said: "After all the hassle I've been through I'm going to deliver the chocolate to the right person myself. These clowns couldn't run a bath.

"I had no idea it would be Parcelforce that would deliver the stereo.

"I was in Ireland when it arrived and had redirected them to another address.

"I noticed there were four boxes with my name on, one of which said 'chocolate'.

"When I opened it, there were 144 bars of a weight-gaining chocolate inside.

"The name and address of the person who ordered it was under the sticker with my name.

"After what happened the last time I was gobsmacked. If I was not to hand back his gear, he would be in the same position as I was."

Mr Whitford's previous encounter with Parcelforce left him fuming.

During a November trip to South Africa, he bought a number of items including a pot, rugs and railway engine lamps dating from 1880.

He said when Parcelforce eventually delivered his box, it was given to a stranger in the street and Mr Whitford never received it.

He said: "It came 6,500 miles but then got lost on College Road."

A spokeswoman for Parcelforce said: "We are pleased to say only a very small number of parcels are mis-delivered.

"However, on rare occasions it can happen.

"We are very grateful our customer has offered to re-deliver the parcel. However, we are always more than happy to redeliver, which we would do within 24 hours."