The money could fly us to Oz

MARIE SMITH wants her annuity money back after being diagnosed with cancer last year.

The 66-year-old grandmother has two annuities with Canada Life paying her £83 a month — or just under £1,000 a year.

But now she is undergoing treatment for breast cancer, she wants to use her savings to spend time with her family — including her daughter who lives in Australia.

Marie, who ran a transport business with her husband James, bought her first annuity in 2006 for around £ 20,000, and a second in 2013 with £15,000.

She now believes that the pots are each worth less than £10,000, so she can access the money in lump sums.

But Canada Life has refused to swap the annuities.

Marie says: ‘I want the money out, I don’t know how long I’m going to last.

‘I want to know why they can’t when other companies can.’