THE carer of an eccentric old man who left his six-figure estate to an 11-year-old girl is challenging his will.

When Wilfred Lamb died, aged 72, his entire estate - which has risen in value to around £250,000 since his death - went to Katie Loveridge, of Worcester Road, Kidderminster.

But schoolgirl Katie is facing a legal challenge to her inheritance, and her parents - Susan and Jim - are accused of manipulating Mr Lamb.

Josephine Shuck of Worcester Road, Titton, Stourport-on-Severn, who looked after Mr Lamb some months before his death, says an earlier will, from 1996, should stand, under which she would inherit £10,000.

At London's High Court, barrister Ruth Jordon, for Katie, told Judge John Jarvis QC that Mr Lamb - who lived in a derelict house and suffered from a paranoid disorder - was "extremely close" to the youngster.

"They were like grandfather and granddaughter," she said. "Mr Lamb had wanted to ensure Katie went to a good school, he wanted her to have ballet lessons."

Mr Lamb, added the barrister, saw the Loveridges as family.

The family is said to have pledged to put up Mr Lamb in return for him leaving cash to Katie.

It is not disputed that Mr Lamb read and signed his will and, at the time he wrote it, nine days before his death in January 2000, wanted to give Katie his money.

But Hedley Marten, for Mrs Shuck, said Mr Lamb was in such a frail mental state he did not know what he was doing.

He was effectively a "prisoner of his situation" who had no choice but to accede to the Loveridges' demands, said Mr Marten.

He added Mrs Loveridge had Mr Lamb "in her power" and failed to give an adequate reason why he left £250,000 to Katie.

But Judge John Jarvis QC, who reserved his decision, suggested Mrs Loveridge acted fairly.

He did not indicate when he would give his judgement.

"The will was signed in a perfectly business-like arrangement with two witnesses Mr Lamb knew," he said.