Court summons for Iris, 82

A Walsall pensioner who broke her hip on holiday returned home after a stay in hospital to find a court summons and a council demand for £800.

Iris Hodgkins, aged 82, said she had never missed a council tax payment before in her life.

The former jeweller from Dartmouth Avenue, in Coalpool, was left stricken in Norwich University Hospital after a fall during her holiday with husband, George, to East Anglia.

The pair set off in June, but were left stranded until this week because Iris was ordered to rest by the surgeons who operated on her hip. "I think it's absolutely terrible," she said. "I've never paid a bill late in my life and if they checked their records they would see that I've always paid my council tax early.

"It was very upsetting and I don't understand how they can allow this to happen. They've acted like little Hitlers and I think they should apologise."

Councillor Al Griffiths, Walsall Council cabinet member for finance, said: "Clearly, we are happy to assist people who fall behind with payments when we can. However, we are not able to do so unless we are informed by residents, their families or ward members."