A GREAT grandma has been targeted in a sinister postal scam by a clairvoyant who warned she was in "imminent danger" - unless she paid for 'protection'.

Trading Standards today branded the letter an "unpleasant attempt to extort money from people" and urged pensioners to ignore the demands.

The 79-year-old Blackburn great-grandma targeted by the scam said it left her feeling threatened and anxious.

And the manager of her sheltered accommodation complex warned that the letter would have a devastating impact on vulnerable elderly people.

The letter, from a Morgan T who claims he is a clairvoyant, came from Geneva.

It requests £17 for a "personal analysis of occult and vibratory revelations" for the next 12 months.

Morgan T claims this will "protect you forever against the occult forces from the past which are seeking to harm you". The letter says: "Act quickly, because a silent threat is now hanging over you and it could cause you to forfeit forever an enormous sum of money.

"After December 7 I will no longer be able to do anything for you.

"I know you had a premonition...I saw it. I wanted to warn you immediately, because I knew just what you were risking.

"The planets in your Astra...have created a time-space gap in your Astral Sky You could be severely abused over the next few days."

Winifred Parkinson, 79, of Trinity Street, Larkhill, Blackburn, received the letter at her home in Bowman Court.

Mrs Parkinson said: "I didn't like the letter to be honest. I thought it was threatening.

"I don't want to make a fuss about it but I want to urge other people to ignore it."

Glynis Scott, manager of Bowman Court, said: "I think it is shocking. She was really upset but she is one of the strongest residents.

"I dread to think what could have happened if it was someone else. When someone threatens you as you get older it can be really frightening."

Ian O'Donnell, principal trading standards officer for Blackburn with Darwen Council, revealed that the Office for Fair Trading had launched an investigation to trace those behind the scam.

He added: "We would urge people not to send money in response to these kind of letters.

"This is a particularly nasty example of this kind of scam that seems to have targeted elderly people. "

Anyone who receives the letter should contact Trading Standards on 01254 585904.