A WOMAN aged 79 has been left frightened and upset by electricity bill demands she does not have to pay.

Widow Lily Williamson says she has hardly slept since receiving a threat that Norweb would force entry to her home to install a power card meter, or cut off her electricity supply.

She was moved out of her council flat at Westhoughton just after Christmas following a burst pipe in the empty flat above, which flooded her home.

Bolton Council told her the electricity used to dry out the flat during the two months she was away would be paid by the Authority.

But repeated visits to Bolton Town Hall by frail Mrs Williamson failed to stop the Norweb bills from coming. In the most recent letter, Norweb said they would be calling to fit the card meter and, if she did not allow them in, they would seek a warrant from a magistrate to permit entry, even if she wasn't in, to cut off the supply

Earlier this week, Mrs Williamson contacted Westhoughton town councillor Brian Clare who took up her case at Bolton Town Hall where he said the error had been made and the bill had not been paid. He also contacted Norweb who have assured him that the job to fit the card meter would be cancelled.

Cllr Clare said: "I have been given an assurance that Mrs Williamson's bill will be paid this next week. But it is disgusting that Norweb have sent a letter like this to an elderly person, indeed anyone, and I am concerned that this could happen again."

A spokesman for Bolton Council said, as soon as Mrs Williamson came to them about the bill, the council contacted Norweb, but for some reason they continued sending her the bills. He said as the council did not receive invoices, the account was not paid, but would be paid next week.

A spokesman for Norweb assured that no further action would be taken and the company would wait for the council to pay.

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