NTL has again set debt collectors on a disabled 82-year-old war hero over money he doesn't owe in spite of promising not to.

On March 14, the Evening Advertiser reported how Douglas Payne, 82, of Windrush Road in Rodbourne Cheney, was battling with the cable television firm.

He cancelled his contract last November, only to be bombarded with demands for £138 after NTL failed to register the cancellation.

NTL promised the Evening Advertiser that Mr Payne would have no more trouble, but he says he was telephoned less than a fortnight later by NTL's collectors, who hinted at coming to take away his property to pay the non-existent debt.

The Evening Advertiser stepped in a second time, and now NTL managing director Peter Savage has publicly apologised to Mr Payne, blaming an employee's failure to call off the debt collectors.

Mr Savage said: "I can personally assure Mr Payne that this matter has now been fully resolved, and that the individual who failed to complete the procedure correctly has been spoken to and will be retrained. On behalf of NTL, I apologise for the inconvenience and distress Mr Payne's dealings with us have caused."

Mr Payne is a World War II veteran. He was rescued from Dunkirk, fought his way through the Allies' Sicilian campaign and lost an eye at Arnhem.

He shares his home with wife Lilian, who is also 82. They celebrated their diamond wedding in 2000.

He said: "I want to thank the Evening Advertiser for its help.

"I had a call this morning from a woman from NTL, who left her number and said I should call if I had any more problems.

"My wife and I have all our faculties, but imagine the distress something like this could cause to people who were ill or something like that. I think NTL's service is very poor.

"When the company was Swindon Cable, we used to enjoy it, but since NTL took over it has been terrible."

Mr and Mrs Payne are now with Sky and have no complaints about its service.