A GRIEVING Burnley father today slammed heartless debt collectors for sending him a £10 bill for his dead daughter.

Devastated John Murdoch, who is himself battling bowel cancer, said he was "disgusted" when the letter from a debt management company made the demands.

Today the Department for Works and Pensions apologised for the blunder and scrapped the £10.72 debt, which it tried to reclaim after his 36-year-old daughter Heather was overpaid following her death.

The situation was criticised by former Mayor Gordon Birtwistle as "scandalous."

Heather, who was left handicapped after contracting meningitis as a baby, died after losing her fight against cancer last December.

The letter was sent from the Department for Works and Pensions in-house debt collection service, Debt Management based in Darlington.

It read: Dear Mr Murdoch. I am writing regarding the income support paid to Miss Heather Murdoch.

"I am sorry to hear Miss Murdoch has died. I am writing to you now because we carried on paying income support of £10.72 to Miss Murdoch after she died.

"We have to ask you to pay this money back because it is not part of Miss Murdoch's estate.

"Please pay £10.72 as soon as you can and make cheques payable to department of works and pensions and use the envelope provided. Yours faithfully Debt Centre Manager MC Charles."

John, 65, of Barclay Avenue, said: "I have been left shattered by this.

"I am not bothered if she owed the money, even if it was a mistake on their part.

"It just came as a nasty shock. It's very upsetting, especially when I'm not very well myself.

"I think it is completely insensitive of these people to make demands like this for the sake of just ten pounds.

"I have only just started to get over Heather's death and then this comes through the post.

"I don't want to run the risk of having bailiffs banging at my door because I've never owed a penny in my life so I was going to pay it but I think they need to be shown up for what they have done to me. Everybody I have told thinks it's disgusting."

John signed Heather's estate over to Healey Mount Nursing Home where she had been living for the past three years.

He added: "When she died we used the money she had to pay for the funeral and the rest I gave to the nursing home.

"I still keep Heather's ashes in a coffin shaped casket at home I don't want her memory to be ruined by this."

Coun Birtwistle, who represents Coalclough with Deerplay ward, added: "I am absolutely appalled by this.

"It probably cost more to get the member of staff to write the letter and send it out in the first place.

"This should have been scrapped but this is typical of the Government we have.

"They will take from the poor and will be delighted to take loans from the wealthy."

Karen Booth, a spokesperson for the DWP, said: "We sincerely apologise for any upset caused.

"The letter was sent out in error, and the overpayment will not have to be repaid.

"A letter of apology will be sent to Mr Murdoch."