A COUNCIL has apologised after it threatened to evict an 83-year-old great-grandmother from her council flat because she owed them 3p.

Kathleen Smith, of Franklin Ainsworth House, Great Harwood, was shocked when she received Hyndburn Council's final demand for rent arrears and bemused that they said she could pay it in instalments.

And although the council quickly apologised, Kathleen, who has four great-grandchildren - Hannah, eight, Frazer, seven, Morgan, five, and Joseph, two - said they have done a similar thing to someone else.

She said that another pensionerin her building, who does not want to be named, was sent a similar letter demanding 46p in arrears.

The council apologised after Mrs Smith's daughter-in-law Maureen Smith made the payment. She took a cheque, because it was cheaper than a stamp and it would delay them getting their hands on the cash.

The letter sent to Mrs Smith was signed by neighbourhood housing officer Mrs J Mulligan-Green and said: "I must advise you that your rent account is now £0.03 in arrears. You must clear these arrears within the next seven days. Otherwise a notice of seeking possession will be served."

Mrs Smith said: "I was annoyed and upset, I showed it to the milkman because I didn't know what to do with it.

"I went to my daughter-in-law and said I was going to send them three coins stuck to a card but she said that because it will cost me a stamp.

"She paid by cheque because she said it would take time for them to break it down.

"There is another lady who lives here, who got a letter demanding 46p, but as she isn't very well she doesn't want to come forward."

Maureen, who runs the Plough Hotel, in Great Harwood, said: "She came into the pub and showed it to all of us there.

"We couldn't believe it, a lot of the regulars said they would have a whip-round to raise the cash. But I went down with a cheque to the offices, the man there was very nice and said it was ridiculous and he sorted it out.

"They blamed it on the computer."

Nigel Fenton, principal officer of tenant services, said: "This is a genuine mistake. We are very sorry if we have caused any distress, and a formal letter of apology has been sent out.

"We have already taken steps to ensure that this doesn't happen in the future."

Leader of Hyndburn Council Peter Britcliffe said: "It's a sad fact that today we rely on computers and sometimes mistakes happen. I know the staff do their utmost but there is always going to glitches in the system.

"All we can do is apologise and we are sorry for any distress that has been caused to either of the two ladies."