A DISTRESSED granddaughter has slammed British Gas for repeatedly billing her grandad - despite him dying in March.

Grieving Alison Hicks said the gas bills addressed to her deceased grandfather had left her in tears.

Mrs Hicks, of Galloway Road, Poole, said: "I phoned up British Gas and asked them why they had sent a bill to a dead man. I was disgusted really."

Her grandad, 93-year-old Stanley James Bromley, died earlier this year.

"I am his eldest grandchild and next of kin and the sole executor of his will," explained the married Poole mum-of-three.

"He was living in a sheltered housing flat at Creekmoor. As required, I informed all the services that he had died and gave final meter readings."

The Twin Sails Infant School lunchtime supervisor said all the utility companies, apart from British Gas, were extremely sympathetic. She received condolence letters, addressed to her, with either a final bill or a refund.

However, British Gas has now sent bills addressed to her dead grandfather twice, despite her being assured by customer services that this would not happen.

"After receiving the first bill I phoned them up and was on tears on the phone," said Mrs Hicks.

"I'm not an over emotional person but the death of my grandfather hit me hard, a lot harder than anyone imagined."

After the Daily Echo took up the case, British Gas said representatives would be contacting Mrs Hicks to apologise for failing to act immediately when they were first informed of Mr Bromley's death. They say a delay in updating his account led to the letters being sent out.

Mrs Hicks, who has lost both her parents, looked after Stanley for the past seven years

She said: "I told them (British Gas) I thought they were disgusting, that they had upset me beyond belief. I didn't get an apology of anything.

"The reason I want this highlighting is what if they acted this way to a spouse, to someone grieving who was finding it hard. Letters like this could push some people to breaking point."

Leigh Franks, of British Gas, said: "I'm sorry we didn't act immediately when Mrs Hicks contacted us to tell us her grandfather had passed away.

"We've now done this and we will speak to Mrs Hicks to apologise for any distress we've caused at this time."