A BLAENAVON pensioner received a letter from Torfaen Council threatening legal action over his debt of just 20p.

Morell MacKenzie, 89, pays £2.17 a month to lease land off Rhydynos Street for his garage, and paid six months in advance in December.

So when he received a letter from the council last week demanding he pay the 20p he owed within seven days or face legal action Mr MacKenzie was shocked.

His niece, who wishes to remain anonymous, said she was told the annual increase in VAT of 5p more a month had raised the bill to £2.22 a month, leaving Mr MacKenzie 20p short in his payment.

She said: "He has always paid in advance and never likes to have any bills outstanding. The tone of the letter wasn't nice for a first reminder and was quite upsetting for an elderly person. He is annoyed the council has treated him this way as he has served this country fighting in the Second World War."

The family has called on the council to change the way it deals with payment collections.

A council spokesman said reminder letters are automatically generated and sent out when rent remains unpaid and said that the amount does not make any difference. The system identifies outstanding payments but efforts are made to try and stop them when the balance so so low.

He said Mr MacKenzie's case had been overlooked and apologised for any unneccesary distress caused.