A Bristol woman who lost her mother to cancer is furious that Virgin is hounding her for a five pence phone bill.

Joan Audrey Purnell, who had worked at W.D & H.O Wills in Hartcliffe and Brooke Bond tea in Feeder Road until she was 72, died on March 30 aged 86 after battling cancer.

Mrs Purnell had survived breast cancer in 2007 but just two months later and to the despair of her family she was diagnosed with lung and liver cancer.

Her daughter Margaret Jewell, 59, who is also known as Marney, looked after her mother from the day she was diagnosed with cancer until the day she died.

After her mother's death Mrs Jewell from Paybridge Road, Withywood dutifully contacted her utility companies including Virgin who provided her mother's landline.

She immediately paid the £3.19 that was outstanding but on Wednesday received a bill asking for five pence saying it would be increased by 35 pence if it was not paid swiftly.

Mrs Jewell, who used to work at Somerfield before retiring, says it is insensitive of the company who were informed that her mother had passed away.

"It is just another dagger to the heart," Mrs Jewell said.

"I can't understand why they have done it and what the point of it is. Presumably it costs more to send out the letter than what the bill is worth?

"I paid them in full last time so where has this bill come from anyway? This is just another reminder that I have lost my mother who suffered so much in her final years.

"It is so upsetting. I also had a letter from the Bristol 600 Day Centre saying they were sad to hear of the loss of my mother but that she owed £2.77 for a meal.

"It feels like I am being hounded for money when all I want to do is be allowed to grieve in peace with my family.

"I know these companies need paying but when it is such small amounts you feel why do they bother? All it has done is upset the family and remind us that the woman who loved us and who we all loved so much is not here anymore."

A Virgin Media spokesperson said "Mrs Purnell's account had a small remaining charge automatically billed after being over-credited with VAT adjustments due to the 15% rate which we pass on to customers. Whilst the charge was valid, due to the small amount involved, have now cleared the account and apologised to Mrs Jewell for any distress this may have caused during this difficult time."