A woman who got the fright of her life before Christmas with an eviction threat and a bill for £2,000 rent arrears is scared it could happen again.

Elaine Hart, 27, of Ock Drive, Berinsfield, said: "It was a dreadful shock. I went straight into a panic attack. I'm still shaky now.

"I wouldn't go away to my sister's at Christmas because I was scared my stuff would be out on the street when I got back. It was a really frightening experience."

Her problems began before Christmas when she got a letter from South Oxfordshire Housing Association.

It said Miss Hart, 27, owed £2,000 in arrears and an eviction order would be applied for through the courts. But it was all a mistake.

Miss Hart's rent is paid through housing benefits and there had been a mistake on the records.

Her friend Dee Ryan, of Evenlode Drive, Berinsfield, saw the panic that Miss Hart was in and called the housing association. Mrs Ryan said: "She was in an awful state and very, very frightened."

A reassuring phone call from the association to Miss Hart that she was not in arrears and not liable to be evicted did not settle her nerves.

Miss Hart said: "I just couldn't believe what was happening -- it gave me the fright of my life. It turned everything upside down and I'm still very nervous about it all."

Association spokesman Lisa Morris said: "We are sorry that it caused this distress.

"Our officers acted by the book in informing Miss Hart of the problem -- and then went beyond their remit to try to help her sort out things over the benefits.

"We have had considerable problems with housing benefits paid late but we are trying to sort it out."