Opening a bill is rarely a pleasant experience but imagine how a man in Chadwell Heath felt when he opened this letter demanding almost £42,000.

Energy company EDF claimed the incredible sum was owed for just 76 days of gas and electricity.

Between October 25 and January 8, the “latest meter readings” had totalled £41,964.12, despite the previous payment being only £187.

According to the letter, there were only eight days left to pay the astronomical bill.

The householder, who did not want to be identified, said he knew the amount was impossible for his three-bedroom home.

He added: “When I opened it I said: ‘That seems ridiculous – how can they charge me £42,000?’

“They said they got the meter reading wrong.”

An EDF spokesman claimed the huge error was an “isolated incident”.

She added: “A reading taken from electricity meter was added to the gas meter records.

“This made meter look like it had gone around the clock.”

The company has wiped the charge, apologised and put the account in £117.50 credit.