A frail pensioner was threatened with debt collectors after being accused of totting up a massive bill for a mobile phone she says she does not own.

Cynthia Gautry returned from a stay in Bradford Royal Infirmary to find a demand from a debt collecting agency for almost £200 for a One-2-One phone.

The 66-year-old had been treated for angina before getting the bill for £195.57.

Mrs Gautry, of Thornbury, owns an Orange 'pay as you go' handset and said when she bought it a salesman tried to sell her a One-2-One phone but she did not accept.

Mrs Gautry, of Leeds Road, said: "I came home from hospital on Saturday at 9.30pm and found this letter saying if I didn't pay them within 72 hours, they would send someone round.

"I have been to the hospital twice because of this, once in December and last week. I can't take anymore."

Mrs Gautry has been trying to save money to pay for her funeral to remove the task from her children and said paying the bill would have decimated her finances.

The letter from the debt collectors said: "Unless arrangements are made to settle the above account within 72 hours of receipt of this letter, our agents will be instructed to issue legal proceedings to attend your premises to establish reason for non-payment.

"Do not underestimate the serious nature of this matter."

A One-2-One spokeswoman said Mrs Gautry could be the victim of fraud. She said: "It looks like it may be a fraudulent account. It is quite rare that this happens but the handset will be put out of use.

"We will be writing to her or calling her and asking her to sign a letter saying the phone is not hers."