IREN Vadasz thought she was pretty careful when it came to using water. So she was amazed when she copped for an £11,000 bill from North West Water!

The bill, marked with the words "please help us by paying your bill promptly", arrived at Mrs Vadasz's flat in Toon Crescent, Brandlesholme, where she has lived for four years.

In the past her water bills have always been under £100.

Both she and her daughter Lillian were shocked by the latest invoice.

Living alone in the flat, Mrs Vadasz (63) does not have a washing machine and makes a conscious effort to keep her water consumption down.

Lillian (30), who lives round the corner from her mother, tried to solve the problem but came up against a brick wall.

She said: "When my mother told me about the bill I thought she was joking. I thought she had misread the amount.

"Even one of her neighbours came round to have a look at it.

"The situation has caused my mother a great deal of stress. She is very concerned, I don't think she has slept properly in weeks and won't rest easy until the bill is sorted out.

"It is hard enough making ends meet when the bills are sent out right.

"I contacted North West Water and tried to be diplomatic. But they have not offered a proper explanation or an apology. Their attitude has been to say 'well, so what'." Mrs Vadasz started a new life in England after leaving Hungary as a political refugee in the 1950s. She is on medication and suffers from angina, bronchial asthma and arthritis.

A representative from Bury Society for Blind and Partially Sighted People visited her recently - she is affected by tunnel vision and classed as a blind person - and phoned North West Water on her behalf, without success.

Mrs Vadasz said: "This should be a matter for the Prime Minister. They do not have the right to deal with people like this. I think it has happened to a lot of other people."

"People accuse me of telling fibs about things but I am telling the truth this time!"

North West Water have offered Mrs Vadasz £15 off her next bill although the sending of the invoice looks like a genuine accident.

A meter reader was calling at the flat yesterday afternoon as the Bury Times went to press.

A spokesperson said: "We will send a corrected bill. Mrs Vadasz appears to have read the digits on the meter the wrong way round causing our billing system to assume that her meter had gone round the clock."

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