A PARTIALLY-sighted pensioner has accused Severn Trent of "legalised mugging" after the water company chased him for a bill he had already paid.

Ivor Downes has since received an apology from the company but fears the same thing could happen to others.

Mr Downes said he had always paid his bills "weeks in advance" but since settling his water bill in March, Severn Trent has issued reminders stating he was in debt.

Following a call from the Evening News, Severn Trent contacted the 76-year-old.

"They apologised and said that they had found where this mistake had been made." said Mr Downes, who worked for Navy, Army and Air Force institutions for 18 years, serving in Germany, Kenya and Cyprus.

"They still think I owe them £13 but said as it was a small amount they would write it off. I am not entirely satisfied myself."

Mr Downes, from St John's, Worcester, said although he came from a poor family he was taught that "if you cannot afford it don't have it".

"I didn't like being in debt," he said.

"It hurt me."

He said that since paying his water bill he received a total of three letters saying that he owed different amounts of money.

He said he even returned to his bank with the original bill so that a bank employee could clarify to Severn Trent that he had paid it.

He maintains that, despite this action, Severn Trent told him he still owed money, although a letter arrived to say that £90.54 had been added to his account.

"It is legalised mugging." he added.

"It worries me that there could be someone worse off than me out there."

"Its all down to a bank error," said a spokeswoman for Severn Trent Water Authority.

"Our customer services employee had a word with the customer and it's all been sorted out now."