Tesco criticized for excess packaging "blunder"
A 24-piece dinner set has been delivered by Tesco in 48 separate boxes. Each item was packed in an individual box and then placed inside a second box. The boxes also contained vast amounts of paper. Despite such packaging, four bowls and a mug were broken in the delivery. Tesco, which used Yodel for the delivery, said the amount of packaging was a blunder. The company states that the error has been identified and will not be repeated.  However, Tesco has refused to help remove the packaging.

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A couple were left with a mountain of cardboard in their living room after their new dinner set was delivered in 48 separate boxes.

Joanne and Billy Murphy were mystified as to why every plate, bowl and mug they had ordered from Tesco was packed in its own individual box and then placed inside a second bigger box.

The pile of boxes took up so much space the family could not see their living room floor once they had unwrapped all the items from the 24-piece dinner set.

And despite the careful packing, four bowls and a mug were smashed in the delivery.

Boxed up: Joanne Murphy was shocked when her Tesco 24-piece dinner set arrived in 48 separate boxes

Cardboard crazy: The mother-of-two thought the delivery process was 'ridiculous and 'laughable' as everything was double boxed

Clutter: Mrs Murphy, 39, was stunned when each item from the 24-piece dinner set arrived in two separate boxes

Mrs Murphy, 39, a mother-of-two, described the delivery process as 'laughable' and was annoyed Tesco had initially ignored her requests to help her clear away the piles of cardboard.

She was already irritated at having to wait 14 days for the £50 delivery to arrive.

She said: 'The ironic thing is despite all the packaging, they still managed to break five items.

'The first two bowls came in a separate delivery. I thought it was pretty bad they came in their own boxes so I rang Tesco to complain.

'I thought that would be a one-off. I never expected the whole order to be like that.

'The driver knocked on our door and asked if I was expecting a big delivery. I said not really, just some kitchen stuff, but his entire van was full of it.

'He was astonished as we were. Nobody could understand why there were so many boxes.

'Every plate, bowl and mug came in two boxes. It was laughable.

'I think it's ridiculous and I was even more annoyed when they ignored me after I asked them to come and clear it up.

'After everything was unwrapped we couldn't even see the floor.'

Piled up: The Murphy family were left with stacks of empty boxes in their living room after the Tesco delivery

Annoyed: Mrs Murphy said she was disappointed Tesco had not agreed to immediately take away the boxes after the 'laugable' delivery

Mrs Murphy and husband Billy, 38, a railway engineer, pay £6 a month as part of the Tesco Delivery Saver as they regularly use the company for their grocery shopping.

When the couple finally opened the boxes there was also a huge amount of paper inside which added to the clutter.

She rang Tesco to complain but the store initially only wanted to deal with the broken items. They have now collected the packaging.

The full-time mother, who lives in Ashton-under-Lyne in Greater Manchester, said she had concerns about the environment impact of the cardboard overload but could also see the funny side.

'For the kids it was like Christmas Day. They were making dens and turned some of the boxes into an indoor skate park', she said.

Playground: The full-time mother was able to see the funny side as her children used it as an indoor skate park

Excessive: Mrs Murphy holds up one of the plates that arrived from Tesco in two separate boxes - five items were damaged in the delivery

Tesco, which used delivery firm Yodel to distribute Mrs Murphy's order, said the amount of packaging was a blunder.

A spokesman told MailOnline: 'We aim to use the minimum packaging possible while ensuring our products are properly protected from damage. Clearly we’ve made a mistake on this occasion.