An award-winning retired nurse was left in tears after a tax blunder saw her “treated like a criminal”.

Mary Sharp, of May Close, Chessington, dedicated 40 years of her working life to the NHS and was even honoured by the Duchess of Kent in 1956 when she won nurse of the year.

But the 80-year-old was one of thousands given a short period to pay £1,500 back to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) after it admitted adding up their tax bills wrong last autumn.

She was left feeling harassed after she received a letter from the HMRC threatening her with bailiffs and warning that her possessions could be seized and publically auctioned off.

“Not paying your tax on time has serious consequences. We must collect this tax from you to pay for the hospitals and the schools we all rely on.”

The former union official, who now relies on a mobility scooter to get around, said: “The last letter that came in I couldn’t believe the way it was worded.

“It was more or less saying the health service was deprived because of people like me. I think it also said something about burying your head in the sand.

She added: “I felt belittled and still feel that I have been treated like a criminal. It has upset me an awful lot. There were times when I was moved to tears.

“I have never had anything from anybody all my life.

Mrs Sharp, a mother-of-two, spent most of her working life at former mental hospital in West Park, Ewell.

She said the mistake by HRMC was doubly inexcusable as the tax office in Kingston had been filling in her paperwork for her over the past three years.