SHEILA Fox could face a jail sentence for leaving her car unattended overnight.

The bizarre letter from Swindon Council, threatening prosecution and a £1,000 fine, appeared on her "abandoned" M reg Cavalier when it was legally parked outside her daughter's house, having been used just hours earlier.

Adrian Ruck, spokesman for Swindon Council, said: "We are looking into this matter. It does sound very odd and unlikely."

At first 70-year-old Sheila, from Stratton, thought it was a practical joke.

"Its turned into a real life nightmare," she said.

Her disbelief grew when she called Swindon Council to complain.

She said: "I explained the crazy situation, expecting a fulsome apology. But I was told the notice had been issued because the car wasn't moving."

Despite being 70, Sheila is still a conveyancer and has worked in the law for nearly 50 years. She said: "Your average pensioner would be scared witless by this sort of letter. But because I know my rights, I'm very angry."

Although Sheila runs her own business, she relies on her daughter, Jennifer, to collect her from work, go shopping and visit her hus-band's grave.

She said: "It seems my car isn't safe unless I take it to bed with me. This is most distressing."

Sheila's daughter Jennifer Distill, 40, who lives in Upper Stratton, said: "My mother is reluctant to drive after she had an accident.

"So she depends on me to keep her hectic schedule going. We use the car daily."

The car, which has just passed its MOT, was parked in Bevan Close, right outside Jennifer's back garden last Tuesday when the mysterious letter appeared.

Jennifer said: "I drove the car to the post office in the morning then parked it, as normal, outside my house. In the afternoon I found this crazy letter slapped on the windscreen."

Jennifer says the road is a public highway and that parking outside her back yard is perfectly legal.

"We just can't understand this letter. It's quite frighten-ing. Every time I step outside my front door, I fear the car will have been towed away for no good reason."

Determined to get to the bottom of this case, Sheila will not rest until the council makes amends.

She said: "It is extremely distressing. The very least they could do is say sorry."

Coun Bernard Baker (Con, St Margaret) has agreed to raise the matter with the council tomorrow.

He said: "I have never encountered this problem before.

"It is clearly inappropriate to send out letters, wasting time, effort and money, if the car is not abandoned.

"I'm more than happy to raise the issue and under-stand how distressing it could be."