A grieving widow from Teignmouth wants to see an internet flower order company closed down after it delivered dead flowers and the wrong message three days after her husband died.

Instead of the loving words of condolence Barbara Wright expected from her brother and sister-in-law in Australia, she found the message: 'To my darling sexy chick, love always and forever. Your tall dark handsome fiancee (sic).'

The 83-year-old said: 'Normally I would laugh at something like that – I'm not a prude – but I just burst into tears.

The flowers came from the internet company The Flower People Ltd, registered in St Albans.

'The flowers were dead and rattling in the box. The label was all crumpled, there was no greenery and barely enough wrapping paper round it.

'I phoned and said I was disgusted,' she said.

The Teignmouth Post has discovered dozens of other unhappy customers, who have paid for flowers that were not delivered. There is evidence that the company has 'piggy-backed' on to a reputable firm of the same name, which is constantly besieged by irate customers.

It appears that The Flower People Ltd has traded under several different names, all of which have attracted bitter complaints on the internet.

Hertfordshire Trading Standards says it is aware of the company and is trying to re-educate it, rather than prosecute.

A spokesman said: 'We are aware of some complaints against this company and are working with them to help improve their practices.

'However, should any customers be unhappy with the level of service, they can obtain free advice by calling Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.'FULL STORY IN OUR ONLINE EDITION