AN 80-year-old widower was threatened with the bailiffs claiming more than £400 in council tax after an administrative bungle.

South Oxfordshire District Council pursued Dennis Reeves, pictured, for £435 and he was told bailiffs would arrive at his Berinsfield home on Monday at noon.

But at the last minute, local councillors and his family stepped in to unravel the council’s blunder.

It turned out, when they checked his benefits and his council tax, that they owed him £48.

Last night, the council apologised for the error and said it was reviewing the situation to make sure it did not happen again.

Mr Reeves, who lives in sheltered accommodation, said: “It was very unsettling. My first thought was, do I pay it? Then I thought £400-odd pounds was a lot of money.”

The former army private added: “I don’t think very much of the council. They just don’t seem to get it right. They need to get their things in order. I’m sure other people have had the same problem. They should get it right, the left hand isn’t talking to the right hand.”

Private firm Capita runs the council’s tax department. Capita revenues manager Trevor Gaffney said the mistake happened because it thought Mr Reeves was living at his former address in Garsington for longer than he was.

Mr Reeves had correctly informed the council he had moved house in March – a month after his partner Dora Graves died – but a mix-up at the meant the address change was not properly registered.

Ann Ducker, leader of South Oxfordshire District Council said: “There was a mix up with the council tax when Mr Reeves moved house and we have sent our sincere apologies for any upset and inconvenience this has caused Mr Reeves and his family. It is a most unfortunate and rare case and we are thoroughly investigating how it was handled from start to finish so it doesn’t happen in the future.”