A WOMAN says she was stunned after receiving a council tax demand and court summons on a property she had sold two years ago.

Ryedale District Council sent Irene Conroy a demand for £120.11 - after not paying within eight days she was sent a court summons.

The bill related to a house in Roxby Terrace, in Thornton-le-Dale, which she had sold in 1999.

She has now made an official complaint which has sparked a council investigation.

"I could not believe it," she said.

"I did advise the council at the time of change of ownership on the house, but what is the point when it has been ignored?

"I do not think they should get away with high-handed treatment like this. What would have happened if I had not kept my change-of -ownership documents?

"It really is horrible to get a summons when you have not had one before."

The blue payment notice she received requested her to pay council tax for a period during September and October this year.

She said she contacted the council immediately pointing out their mistake - but later she received a court summons.

The letter demanded she attended Pickering Magistrates Court on November 30 and pay £30 court costs.

Mrs Conroy has since received an apology from Ryedale District Council which said: "Because the property has recently changed hands and there was a 'gap' in the ownership of this property it was incorrectly assumed that you still had an interest.

"I apologise for this misconception and would confirm that your name and the summons issued to you have been deleted from the property for the period in question."

But Mrs Conroy thinks the council's response has been rather half-hearted.

"When you get a summons your blood pressure goes through the roof," she said.

"This is just so incompetent. If any other company or group had done something like this what would happen to them?"

Harold Mosley, chief executive, said: "The complaint is being investigated.

"I cannot really say any more at this stage, but an investigation is taking place."

Updated: 10:08 Thursday, November 15, 2001