A WIDOW is angry at having to wait almost a year to have a bench dedicated to the memory of her dead husband.

Jinny Campion has spent the last year, since her beloved husband John died, battling to have his long service with Bromsgrove District Council recognised.

John, who had worked as a cesspit tanker driver for the authority's environmental services for 25 years, died suddenly of a heart attack last May, aged 59.

Jinny's heartbreaking story appeared on the front page of the Advertiser/Messenger after she revealed she had not even received a letter of condolence from the council.

She was also angry the authority refused to cough up the £125 statutory gift marking John's long commitment.

After six months tirelessly writing to the council, she received the acknowledgement that her husband was eligible for a gift up to the value of £215. She bought a vacuum cleaner and then donated the money to the Blue Cross Animal Adoption Centre in Wildmoor, as her John was an animal lover.

However, the promise of having a bench dedicated to John remained unfulfilled, despite a letter being sent to town Tory MP Julie Kirkbride claiming this had been done.

"I was informed by a friend that the plaque had finally been fixed to a bench in Sanders Park. The council didn't even let me know this had been done," said Mrs Campion, of Shepherd's Walk.

The bench now sits on a raised triangle of land near to the information centre in the Kidderminster Road park.

"It feels like it's too little too late," she added.

Lesley Waller, Bromsgrove District Council's corporate director of services, said: "The sole purpose of this memorial is to honour John's service to the council and contribution to the community. If there has been any misunderstanding we are really sorry."