ANOTHER church treasurer has been landed with a massive bill from npower for an estimated electricity supply.

The bill for £2,493 was sent to John Worby, treasurer of Birlingham Church, where the bill normally is under £100.

He contacted the Journal after reading the story of Professor Richard Walton, treasurer of the Elmley Castle group of churches, who had a similar sized bill for Bricklehampton Church.

"What's so frustrating about it is that I've not been able to speak to anyone in the company able to sort it out for me," Mr Worby said. "They took the view they couldn't do anything about it until they had an up-to-date reading."

Mr Worby then sent off what he described as "a snooty email" which was acknowledged and then he had another saying the company was putting in an investigation team to sort matters out.

"It amazes me they don't have an overall view of these things," Mr Worby said. "I think there ought to be someone somewhere in the company when things are wrong."

Npower spokeswoman Beverley Harrington said there was a problem with estimating bills but since the problem with Bricklehampton Church last week, the company was putting in place a system where bills were looked at before they were sent out so that when there was an usual amount the bill could be held back for checking.

Professor Walton said he would be looking for a new supplier. He said: "npower don't seem to be able to learn from their mistakes and go on doing it."