A Rayleigh woman has submitted a £400,000 bill to Essex social services, to reimburse her elderly parents for their care and devotion since she was paralysed in a car crash.

Denise Smith, 52, of Daws Heath Road, broke her neck in the head-on smash 38 years ago as her family drove on holiday to the West Country.

Since she was discharged from Stoke Mandeville Hospital in February 1962, Denise has had only four weeks respite care. For the rest of the time, she has been looked after by her parents William and Ellen, now both 86.

She said: "It is only in the last four years that we have received any help at all. It was one hour a day until December 1997, when my father was rushed into hospital with a strangulated hernia, caused by years of lifting me."

Then the care was increased to three and a half hours daily, to help with getting dressed and undressed and toiletting. The rest of the time, she still relies on her parents.

Denise's care bill, based on a national charity's residential home charges, was prompted by social services' forthcoming charging policy.

In a letter to director Michael Leadbetter, she said: "I feel it only fair that my parents are reimbursed for the years of devoted care they provided, saving Essex County Council thousands of pounds."

She is angry that, after receiving £32,500 compensation in 1966 - estimated on a further 15 to 20 years life expectancy - she opted to invest the money for high growth rather than income.

She said: "Now I feel I have been the biggest fool. If I had blown the lot on wonderful holidays and was now on income support I would be laughing."

Denise plans to ignore the glossy means test form which she estimates "cost an absolute fortune". She said: "I have told them I will go to prison rather than pay."

Denise, who is secretary of Rochford District Access Committee and does charity work for the disabled, hopes her stand will encourage other elderly and disabled people to protest.

Councillor Joe Pike, chairman of the county's social services committee, said he had a lot of sympathy and admiration for Denise but she had no chance with her invoice.

He said: "We have had to bring in a charging policy to direct money to the people who need it most, but that does not help Denise and people like her."

Billing the council - Denise Smith with her 86-year-old parents Ellen and William

Picture: STEPHEN LLOYD

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