A GRIEVING widow from Preston who was preyed on by a number of European cult groups just weeks after the death of her husband has spoken of her anger and heartache.

Kathleen Foy from Ingol lost her 63-year-old husband, Peter, last January following a long illness.

And just weeks later, Kathleen started to receive dozens of letters from groups based in Geneva and Italy claiming to help her "in this particularly difficult situation".

One clairvoyant, calling herself Paloma Summer, claimed to help Kathleen win vasts amounts of money -- as long as she sent off money to cover "administration costs and postage and packing".

Now, Kathleen, 64, from Worthing Road, wants to blow the lid on the scam.

Kathleen stormed: "These letters are absolutely disgusting.

"What worries me is how they got my address -- they even knew my middle name which I don't really use. It has been a very upsetting experience for me."

Kathleen believes the groups recruit workers in Britain to scour death notices in local newspapers.

Kathleen added: "People are very vulnerable when they lose a loved one. They don't want to help people who are grieving."

Kathleen, who has one grown-up son and two daughters, has received literally hundreds of letters from various groups during the last twelve months.

"I just can't believe how many letters we have been sent. Now I just throw them in the bin, but there could be people out there who may fall for this scam because they are feeling vulnerable."

Councillor Bill Chadwick, who is helping Mrs Foy get to the bottom of the letters, added: "This looks like a pretty vicious scam targeting vulnerable people.

"I would ask anybody to get in touch with me because if we are to redress this we need as much evidence and information about these groups as possible."

Jim Potts, from Lancashire Trading Standards said: "We have received literally hundreds of queries regarding letters of this type.

"Unfortunately, there is no adequate law to protect people against these so-called groups.

"I would urge people to either throw them in the bin or contact us and we will try and sort something out."