A MAN who was sent a contract bearing his dead wife's signature is the latest victim of an electricity scam that has affected scores of people.

David Barnes, 56, is one of 70 homeowners in the Medway area claiming to have been duped into signing up with London Electricity without their knowledge.

Mr Barnes, of Windsor Avenue, Chatham, received the contract with his deceased wife's signature on the bottom. He said: "It was very distressing to see what was supposed to be my wife's signature, when she died two and a half years ago."

Mr Barnes immediately phoned to cancel the contract but it took more than six weeks before he was finally told he was no longer a customer.

Mr Barnes and other families came forward after an exclusive article in the Medway Messenger newspaper on Friday revealed three couples in Lester Road, Chatham, had been sent contracts from the London Electricity, with the wrong initials, telephone number, current supplier, and forged signatures.

A spokesman for London Electricity said: "We have suspended all sales activity in the area. We will be going through all the contracts and getting in touch with customers to check they are bona fide contracts.

"Our chief executive will meet with the area's MPs to find out exactly what has been happening. This is not acceptable and we will have a thorough investigation and review, both of our sales and customer services, as we have let a lot of people down."

The company could even face a fine as under new Government powers the gas and electricity regulator OFGEM has the power to fine a company up to 10 per cent of its turnover if it is found to be mis-selling.