A fighting fund has been set up to help debt-ridden Keighley pensioner Doris Armstrong keep her home.

Campaigners want to raise at least £5,000 to cover the legal costs of mounting a defence against the threatened eviction.

A court has ordered the 77-year-old war widow to hand over her house in Braithwaite Walk, Braithwaite, to a finance company.

Mrs Armstrong borrowed £2,784 a decade ago, but now owes £37,000 because she fell into arrears with interest at 45 per cent a year.

Keighley MP Ann Cryer is leading attempts to either persuade the finance company to back down or to beat it in court.

Manchester-based Reunion Finance insists it has made many efforts over the past few years to reschedule Mrs Armstrong's payments but she has failed to comply.

Donations are now being requested from the public for the Doris Armstrong Fighting Fund, which will pay a solicitor to reopen the case.

Payments can be made to the Yorkshire Bank account number 17335510 (sort code 050535). Trustees include a bank manager and a member of Mrs Armstrong's family.

Mrs Cryer is awaiting the outcome of the legal action before deciding whether to campaign for law changes.

She could put pressure on government departments handling consumer affairs, legal issues and regulation of financial services.

Mrs Cryer said: "If Doris goes back to court with a competent solicitor who wins for her, I don't think I have anything to complain to the government about.

"But if the judge says "you do owe the money", then I have a great deal to go to the ministers about.

"We'll have to say there's a wrong here. Is it fair that a woman who didn't read the small print is going to be deprived of her home?"

If Mrs Armstrong's appeal against the eviction does not work, the MP will try to find her alternative accommodation, such as a housing association property.