BBC apologises to mother of missing woman over licence fee letters

Mother of university cook Claudia Lawrence felt ‘untold heartache’ over letters threatening £1,000 fines

The BBC has said it is “very sorry” for the distress caused to the mother of missing university cook Claudia Lawrence after letters about licence fee payments were sent to her daughter’s property.

The broadcaster plans to apologise directly to Joan Lawrence after she told the Sun the letters, which she said had threatened up to £1,000 in fines, were causing her “untold heartache”.