Ananova:

A Shropshire pensioner trying to withdraw money from her savings account was refused - because she was 'dead'.

Mary Welsby's Isa account had been closed by Abbey and the £3,000 in it paid out, reports the Daily Mail.

Despite flashing photo ID, Mrs Welsby was informed that she was still officially deceased and could not draw out any cash.

The 77-year-old said: "I know I'm quite long in the tooth now but I'm certainly not dead.

"The young lady serving me began typing away on her computer but all of a sudden looked puzzled and told me that according to their records, I was dead.

She went a bit pale, either because she was embarrassed at such a mistake or she thought she was seeing a ghost."

Eventually, after the bank investigated further, it discovered that a woman with a name similar to hers and around the same age had died.

By mistake, Mrs Welsby's account had been closed and the money paid out to the dead woman's family.

Nine weeks later, the grandmother of two, from Albrighton, has finally heard she was going to get her money back.

An Abbey spokesman said: "We are sincerely sorry for the distress and inconvenience Mrs Welsby has experienced while we investigated her complaint."