In the months before her death, stroke victim Elsie Cole was unable to perform simple household tasks such as cooking or answering the phone.

So when the 82-year-old bought a £1,200 mobility scooter, her daughter Valerie Epps was understandably concerned.

However, her concern turned to anger when she was told she could not return the vehicle - even though it had barely been used.

Mrs Cole died last month but the scooter remains in her empty flat.

She bought the vehicle from Hertfordshire-based company Complete Mobility Ltd, when a salesman visited her sheltered housing complex, Leach Court in Park Street, Brighton.

Having been given a test drive, Mrs Cole paid £1,200 in cash for the scooter. By the time it was delivered some weeks later, she regretted her decision and wanted to send it back.

Her daughter, of Brighton Square, said: "As well as not being able to use her left arm, mum was very confused.

"She would struggle with basic things like picking up the telephone, often speaking into the earpiece instead of the mouthpiece.

"We had written down basic instructions so she could work her microwave but she couldn't even follow these. There is no way she would have been safe driving that scooter.

"The last few months of her life were filled with worry about what she would do with it."

Mrs Cole's GP, Dr Biddulph, from Biddulph and Partners in Albion Street, Brighton, also wrote to Complete Mobility stating that she could not safely use the scooter.

Complete Mobility specialises in providing vehicles for elderly stroke victims and director Patrick O'Neill said the company's salespeople were trained to make sure potential customers could drive the scooters safely.

He said: "Our sales people would not sell a vehicle to somebody they felt was not physically or mentally able to use it. That is just not ethical.

"Sometimes, however, that decision is not easy to make. It's like walking a tightrope."

However, he has promised to review the decision to sell Mrs Cole the scooter but could not confirm if the company would refund the money and take the scooter back.

"If there is any way we can ease the pain Mrs Epps must be feeling at the moment, then we will. I will be writing to her shortly."