A GREAT-GRANDMOTHER was left distressed state when a Vale council error led to her being sent a blue badge with her deceased sister-in-law’s photograph.

Eighty-eight-year-old Kathleen Powell, of Coychurch Rise, Gibbonsdown, Barry, took delivery, at her home on August 24, of a blue badge for her relative Kathleen Powell, of Goon Close, Treharne, who had died in June last year.

Mrs Kathleen Powell, also a great-grandmother was 83-years-old when she died and had never lived at the Gibbonsdown address.

The Vale council cited an “administrative error” and has since made contact to apologise.

Mrs Powell, who is registered disabled having suffered Strokes, said she was shocked at seeing the document and her efforts to solve the issue with the council had met with silence.

She said: “I opened it and looked and went, ‘Oh God’.

“I saw my sister-in-law in the photo, it was a shock God love her.

“Her family are not happy.”

Mrs Powell, who uses her car to volunteer at her Castaways lunch and bingo club and go shopping around town, said after she had struggled to get through to the contact centre her son took her to the Civic Offices where she was assured she would be contacted.

No contact was made.

“I’m really upset,” Mrs Powell said. “We used to be so close and I would phone her all the time. All the family are disgusted.

“An apology is all I want and my blue badge.”

A Vale council spokesman said: “We have contacted Mrs Powell to apologise for what was a rare administrative error and would like to take this opportunity to again express our extreme regret at this situation.

“The mistake occurred because Mrs Powell and her sister-in-law shared the exact same name and as soon as we became aware of it, immediate steps were taken to address the problem.

"An investigation has been launched in light of this episode and procedures will be reviewed, with staff reminded of the importance of checking dates of birth before making badges.

“We hope the above steps can minimise the chance of such an error being repeated.

"We have ordered a new badge for Mrs Powell, which should be with her in the next two weeks."