BUNGLING council staff kept on paying an ex-employee for 15 months after she left her job, it has been revealed.

Now the former social worker is being sued by Hampshire County Council who are demanding back the £18,000 they paid her.

Clarice Jansen, 57, who now lives in South Africa, stopped working for the council in April 1999 according to a writ issued at the High Court.

But in spite of leaving council employment she continued to receive a salary until the end of August in 2001.

The bill of £18,094.02p is being claimed by the authority along with the costs of the legal action and interest amounting to £2,692.44 if it is successful in its claim.

The case comes just one week after the council was rated an "excellent" authority in a government survey which looked into how the authority performed over a wide range of services.

The council could also lose around £45 million next year because of a new government cash deal.

According to the writ, Miss Jansen worked for the council from August 1 1975 until April 15 1999 when she left to live in South Africa.

But by mistake, the council's payroll service was not notified that she had finished her job. The council continued to make payments into her bank account at the National Westminster Bank in Basingstoke for 15 months until the authority realised its error.

According to the writ the council discovered the mistake in September last year and demanded Miss Jansen pay back the money by February.

So far, the interest has totted up to £2,692.44. But it will continue to increase at the rate of £3.47 per day until Miss Jansen repays the money.

Hampshire County Council spokeswoman Kate Ball said: "This is obviously going through a legal process. The council is recovering a debt which is legally due to the authority.

''We are unable to give any further detailed comments at this stage."