REPEATED town hall blunders in sending council tax letters to dead men has sparked anger.

Widow Rene Shelley received two letters which were addressed to "Dear Mr Alfred Shelley Deceased'', detailing his benefit entitlement and asking him to write if he had any queries.

And widow Gladys Sellers revealed she had to receive hospital treatment for shock the day after receiving a letter sent in March to late husband, Horace, who died last December.

She said the letter left her in a terrible state and feeling so ill she had to be examined at the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough.

On both occasions the letters were sent by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.

It blamed the blunders on a computer glitch and promised a full investigation.

But Councillor George Dunning, leader of the opposition Labour group on the council, said the repeated blunders beggared belief.

He said: "Once again we hear of unnecessary distress and alarm with another one of our senior citizens receiving a council tax letter addressed to her deceased husband.

"This coming so shortly after a previous letter was sent out, causing the same distress and alarm."