Scores of Bradford householders have been forced to wait months for refunds on their electricity bills, according to a consumer watchdog.

Energywatch North East has revealed customers are sometimes left waiting up to 12 months before they receive refunds after they have continually over-paid on their monthly direct debit or when their final bill shows them to have a credit.

Now the watchdog is calling on energy firms to pull the plug on the delays after helping more than 1,300 customers across the region claw their cash back from suppliers in the last 12 months.

Keighley mum Mary Roth-well and her partner Neil Rowbotham had to wait a year before supplier npower returned a credit of more than £300.

The 49-year-old laboratory technician said: "It was horrendous.

"I just kept on ringing and ringing the supplier after I received a bill for £3,000.

"I felt like I was being passed from pillar to post.

"I knew there was no way in the world we owed npower that amount of money.

"I finally contacted energywatch because I got to the end of my tether. We worked together to sort it out. The company apologised but it still took ages for us to get the money. It turned out the company had confused my gas reading with my electricity reading."

Mrs Rothwell, of Oat Street, said she was concerned for other customers.

"In the past, the supplier could have sent the wrong bill and I would not have been aware of it," she said.

"Now I read my meter and check it every time, but not everyone can do that."

Energywatch North-East director Carole Pitkeathly said: "This is the worst kind of double standards.

"If the boot was on the other foot energy consumers would soon be receiving letters threatening disconnection or court action.

"Companies are placing undue pressure on consumers by delaying the return of money, which for many would be vital. It is clearly unacceptable.

A statement from the Energy Retailers' Associat-ion, which includes npower, said energy suppliers regularly reviewed direct debit payment levels against a customer's consumption.

It added: "There is no question that companies are in any way wilfully holding on to customers' money if a full year's payments leave a credit on their account.

"As long as actual meter readings are available, a customer is always entitled to be reimbursed significant overpayment.

"In fact, most suppliers automatically refund overpayments without needing contact from the customer.

"All suppliers are working to increase the number of actual meter reads they can obtain from customers to help improve the accuracy in setting direct debit levels.

"In the very rare cases where procedures don't work effectively, suppliers will always look to put the matter right as quickly as possible for the customer."