Cop's bombshell to mum: 'Your hamlet doesn't exist'

A shocked woman rang police about nuisance yobs, only to be told her village did not exist.

Mum-of-three Ann Meagher was astonished when she called the police non-emergency number and was told the hamlet of Allen's Green, Herts, where she has lived for eight years, was not on their computer system.

Two female officers were sent from Bishop's Stortford, six miles away, but Mrs Meagher said they took two hours to arrive and only after she guided them in over the phone.

"Allen's Green is obviously as familiar as Brigadoon to the police in Welwyn Garden City," she said.

"Although we don't appear to exist to police HQ, it doesn't stop Herts Police Authority relieving me of £210 a year as part of my council tax payment."