A MOTHER-of-two claims she had to serve pie and chips for Christmas dinner because police have not paid compensation for battering down her front door.

Carli Flanagan, 23, of Birtwistle Street, Accrington, claims she could not afford to buy her children the presents she wanted to after her money went on repairing the damage.

She says it is three months since police raided her home with a warrant to search for drugs but the names on the warrant were those of the previous occupiers.

Miss Flanagan, who has a six-year-old daughter, Stacey Poynton, and a son James Poynton, one, said: "I had been saving for ages but the kids have had hardly any presents because the money was spent on a new door.

"We even had to have pie and chips for our dinner because I couldn't afford a turkey."

Miss Flanagan said she was not at home at the time of the raid but returned to find her door boarded up.

She said she told the police that it was someone else's name on the warrant. She said they offered to pay her £254 to replace the door but she still has not received the cheque.

Inspector Dave Whittle of Accrington Police said: "We have received some correspondence about this matter and we are investigating what has happened. We hope to provide Miss Flanagan with a response in the near future."

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