A GRIEVING son has told of disappointment after the National Trust sent a letter to his widowed mother referring to his father as 'deceased supporter name' in capital letters.

Mike Groom, 35, of Stockton, who runs the Popcorn Skate shop on Northallerton High Street, said on Twitter that the letter was "crass".

However he has accepted an apology and now hopes to use the issue to help in his efforts to raise money in aid of Ward 14 of James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough where his father was treated for cancer.

His father, Harry Groom, from Bishopsgarth in Stockton died aged 72 as a result of complications leading from bile duct cancer on October 1.

He contacted the National Trust to cancel membership to help his mother, Margaret Groom, 71, who is suffering from Parkinson's Disease and early onset Alzheimer's Disease.

Mr Groom said he was simply glad his mother mistakenly handed it to him and did not open it herself.

The letter, dated October 14, said: "Thank you for telling us the sad news of the death of DECEASED SUPPORTERS NAME...We are most grateful for DECEASED SUPPORTERS NAME's past support for The National Trust."

The National Trust employee who signed the letter called Mr Groom personally to apologise after the organisation was contacted by The Northern Echo.

Mr Groom said: "He both apologised and agreed to issue the refund (for membership of the National Trust.)

"I made it clear the latter wasn't what I was bothered about but didn't turn him down as ultimately mum has better uses for the money now truth be told with her dementia and care needs.

"He actually said it wasn't a mail merge or automated system going wrong. It was the telephone agent simply not paying due care and attention editing a template letter. It's obviously reassuring to hear such honesty and that it's been addressed to save anyone else the distress."

Mr Groom said he and his wife, Linzi, 31, were trying to raise money for Ward 14 and had set up a Just Giving page at justgiving.com/harrygroom and have raised nearly £500 so far.

A National Trust spokesperson said: "We are very sorry for any distress that our letter has caused. This was a genuine mistake and we have contacted the family to apologise whole heartedly to them. We will look into how this happened so that we can make sure that it never happens again.”