POLICE have asked for handwriting samples from members of an over-55s social club after a grandmother was targeted by poison pen hate mail.

Margaret Kitching, 76, called in the police after receiving four letters - in them the writer claims Margaret should stop attending the over 55s' club, states that she looks like 'mutton dressed as lamb' and that her 'hair looks like it's been cut with a knife and fork'.

They go on to call her 'a gobby bitch' and 'as cheap as chips' and mock her appearance and clothing, background and school days, her family and husband Ken.

The letters started arriving before Christmas last year, when Margaret, of Scarfield, Close, Ardsley, was recovering from surgery.

By the time of the third letter, which came in June, Margaret had had enough and called the police, who took the letters away to test for fingerprints.

It led to officers attending the 55s' club in recent weeks and asking members if they would supply sample of their handwriting, although none were actually taken, and most members agreed to co-operate with police.

** The full story appears in the Barnsley Chronicle newspaper, dated September 19. **