A telephone survey company has sent a letter to a Bradford woman's council flat thanking the previous tenant for taking part in a survey - even though she died more than four years ago.

Maureen Lenton said she was amazed when she opened the letter from Cheltenham-based Tele-Survey UK which was addressed to the previous occupant of the Low Moor flat.

"It got me thinking when I saw it," Mrs Lenton said.

"If it had been someone else who opened it who remembered the lady it might have put them in a bit of a panic.

"The lady has been dead at least four-and-a-half years and yet this letter says she took part in a recent telephone survey and has won a prize."

The letter says the recipient has won one of 120 prizes worth a total of £52,000 which have been donated by local businesses.

Tele-Survey UK administration manager Rob Cowley said the company used up-to-date telephone listings which had come originally from BT.

But he admitted: "Obviously it isn't because it has a previous tenant's name in it.

"It seems we have put this lady down as a respondent to our survey by mistake."

He said his firm conducted phone surveys on a number of different topics for clients.

All those who took part were entered into a draw and some won prizes, he said.

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