A COUPLE whose parked car was damaged by a council grass cutter said they feel let down after the authority refused to pay for the £75 repairs.

Joanne Kirkby left her car at about 8.30am next to a grassy area near the former Prince of Wales pub, in West Auckland, on Wednesday, September 24.

After a day at work in the nearby dental practice, Mrs Kirkby returned to her car to find the driver’s side window smashed.

A note had been left on the windshield which said: “I have accidentally smashed your driver's side window whilst strimming, could you please ring Durham County Council.”

Mrs Kirkby’s husband Keith contacted Durham County Council and filled in a form detailing the incident.

In the meantime the couple from Butterknowle paid £75 to have the window replaced.

But they have now received a letter from the authority’s insurance risk officer saying the council had taken “all reasonable precautions, therefore negligence cannot be attributed in this instance, your claim for compensation is denied”.

However, in a statement issued to The Northern Echo today (Friday, October 11) Don McLure, Durham County Council’s corporate director of resources, said: “We can confirm that we are aware of Ms Kirkby’s claim and that it is being considered by our insurance team.”

The letter to the couple said the council worker had checked the area before strimming, was fully trained in the use of the machine and the strimmer was in full working order.

Mr Kirkby said: “We fell very let down, this isn’t about the money but rather the principle.

“If I broke a window by accident, I would expect to have to pay for it.

“The worker accepted he broke the window, the council has made what should be a very simple situation into something much more complicated.”

Mrs Kirkby said: “It seems like it is one rule for one them and another for everyone else.

“I accept accidents happen and do not blame the worker, but I do think the council should pay for damage it causes.

“I’m also annoyed that no-one came in to where I work, which is close by, to see whose car it was.

“It was left all day in the centre of West Auckland with a broken window, if anything had been stolen it would not have been covered by my insurance because the car was left insecure.”