A pensioner who lives alone was horrified to receive her first electricity bill - it was for more than £3,800.

Problems began for Rita Downing, 78, when she switched her supplier from Southern Electric to npower and received a bill for £3,735.32 in May.

Mrs Downing, from Newhaven, said: "I was furious. I rang them up. They said they could not get access to my meter but the meter is downstairs in the lobby."

She did not pay the bill and in August she received another bill for £3,821.91. Now she has received a third one for £3,816.19.

Mrs Downing has been advised by a solicitor to write to the company enclosing a photograph of the meter to show where it is.

She said: "I am a bit anxious."

Npower said it had not pursued Mrs Downing for the money because it was aware there was a problem.

Jennifer Corby, service reputation manager, said the problem appeared to stem from an incorrect estimated meter reading when Mrs Downing's npower account opened.

Ms Corby said npower would look into the problem and resolve it.