Man's £120k council cheque surprise

NEWS about cash-strapped local authorities is not uncommon, but that's hardly surprising because it seems Swansea Council is just giving it away.

While for most people finding a stray pound coin is the limit to an unexpected financial boost, Alun Thomas recently received a six-figure surprise in the shape of a cheque for £121,936.90 from the council.

Red-faced council chiefs have confirmed it was an error, and are investigating.

The envelope arrived at the Thomas family home on April 1.

"There was no covering letter, and I thought it was just an April fool," said Mr Thomas, of Trewyddfa Road, Morriston.

"I rang the council, said thank you very much for the cheque and asked them what it was for!

"But no-one got back to me for three days. So I rang again on the Friday, and gave them the cheque number again."

"There didn't seem to be any disbelief," added the 49-year-old.

"So I thought I would hold onto it, just to make them sweat a bit!"

HOW many people who received a cheque for £121,000 wouldn’t cash it at the speed of light?

When Alun Thomas opened his mail on April 1, it contained a  cheque made out to him from Swansea Council. He didn’t rush to the bank, the travel agent or executive car showroom. Instead he did the decent thing and phoned the local authority.

Admirable behaviour. However,  when three days later the council still hadn’t returned his call, or dashed round his house to rescue the cheque, most of us would have concluded ‘you’ve had your chance’!