EVIL pranksters left a Bolton pensioner in tears after mailing him sick chain letters.

Bill Hibbert, 74, labelled those responsible as "lunatics" after sending him the three letters, with demands that he send on 20 copy letters in four days.

And Mr Hibbert, who is nursing his seriously ill wife, is fuming over thinly veiled threats contained in the letters - all the same - that failure to mail copies could result in death.

One was even addressed to his sick wife, who is waiting for an operation.

The writer claims that people who send the copy letters on could reap financial rewards, but warns one man failed to circulate it, only for his wife to die. Yesterday Mr Hibbert broke down in tears at his home in Barrie Way, Hall i' th' Wood, as he spoke of his anguish on receiving the letters.

He added: "I'm not a violent man but if I could get my hands on whoever has done this I would get my revenge.

"They must be sick in the head to send letters out like this. I might look like a stupid old man to some people who is breaking his heart over something and nothing, but I don't want anything to happen to my wife. I love her very much.

"I'm not superstitious but whoever sent this has caught me at a low point because my wife is so poorly."

Bill has told his bedridden wife Freda, 72, of the letters. Mrs Hibbert is bravely fighting against rheumatoid arthritis and is waiting for an operation to renew her knee caps.

The letters, titled 'With Love All Things Are Possible', warn readers not to send money and that the copies must be posted within 96 hours.

They add: "In the Philippines Oein Welch lost his wife after receiving the letter. He failed to circulate the letter.

"Helen Fairchild received the letter and did nothing with it. Threw it away. Nine days later she died."

Now Mr Hibbert says he is considering reporting the letters to the police. They arrived with a Bolton, Bury and Wigan post mark on the envelopes.

The shocked pensioner added: "If this helps prevent other people being sent these terrible things then it will have achieved something worthwhile."

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