A woman has criticised a housing association for giving her just days to clear her father's home after he died.

Sylvia George, 52, was told extra rent would have to be paid and she could faces charges if the Ashe Crescent house in Chippenham was not cleared.

Her father, Lance Nicholas, 82, had rented the house from Westlea Housing Association for more than 40 years when he died last month.

Mrs George said she was forced to throw most of her father's belongings away, and let neighbours take their pick because she was so rushed. She said she was trying to clear the house and arrange her father's funeral.

Her cousin Helen Stacey, who helped clear the house, said: "My cousin lives in Bristol and had to travel to Chippenham by public transport to sort everything out.

"My uncle had been paying rent to the council, and then the housing association, for 64 years in all, and you'd think they might just give us a break.

Steve Abbott, Westlea's director of housing services said: "Rent is payable until the property is handed back to us and this is usually paid from the estate of the deceased and not by relatives.

"In this particular case, 12 days passed between us being notified of the tenant having died and the tenancy ending.

"I know that the Westlea staff dealing with cases like this do so in a sensitive and understanding manner. Naturally I am sorry that the relatives involved feel unhappy with the way matters were dealt with."