Elderly lady was treated appallingly

HANDS up anyone who has nipped into Timpson’s to get a standard Yale key cut and been charged £60? No? I thought not.

Yet that apparently is the sum that the management of one hotel charged an 85-year-old disabled woman who dropped her room key down a lift-shaft.

She was so embarrassed because the coach on which she was travelling was held up until the dispute was resolved that she paid the extortionate demand.

The hotel, who had her name and address, was well out of order in trying to prevent her leaving and had I been on that coach I would have told the staff that I was going to call the police.

The incident was as close as it comes to demanding money with menaces and the victim was old, frail and frightened.

I expect the Recording Angel ran out of ink keeping up with such nastiness.

Perhaps someone should remind the staff involved that one day they too will be old and easily intimidated.