A PENSIONER was left feeling bemused after receiving a gas bill for just 1p. Reg Dunkley, of Newlyn Close in Stevenage, received the demand for payment from British Gas last week. I was more than surprised, he said. For the rest of the day I kept looki

A PENSIONER was left feeling bemused after receiving a gas bill for just 1p.

Reg Dunkley, of Newlyn Close in Stevenage, received the demand for payment from British Gas last week.

"I was more than surprised," he said.

"For the rest of the day I kept looking at it to see if I had made a mistake. I kept putting it back in the envelope and taking it back out. I couldn't believe it."

Since receiving the bill, Mr Dunkley has been at a loss as to what to do.

He came to The Comet offices and said: "I will feel a fool going into the bank to pay this. It's a bit ridiculous and I'm embarrassed."

The pensioner was reluctant to call British Gas because he is hard of hearing, and he said letters written to the utility company in the past have gone unanswered.

"I don't know what to do," he explained, so The Comet stepped in and contacted British Gas on Mr Dunkley's behalf.

British Gas has subsequently decided to write off the 1p, explaining it was an automatically-generated final bill. "We apologise to Mr Dunkley for any inconvenience," said a spokesman.

"I'm so pleased. That's a load taken off my mind," said a relieved Mr Dunkley.