A mobile phone company has apologised for getting 'its lines crossed' after a letter went to the Northern Ireland widow of a soldier just killed in Afghanistan.

An O2 spokesman told the Belfast Telegraph: "On hearing of her case, and due to the tragic circumstances involved, we can assure her that the phone contract will be cancelled and any outstanding charges will be waived."

The communications failure came to light after O2 sent a letter demanding his phone be returned just days after his funeral.

Amanda Binnie, whose husband Sean died during a firefight in Helmand province, said she was shocked and felt it was grossly insensitive.

She explained she had bought the phone and contract as a Valentine's Day gift for her 22-year-old husband who served with the Black Watch 3rd battalion.

"I can't explain how I feel about this I'm very, very annoyed," she said, noting that it threatened that if O2 didn't receive the phone within 14 days there would be a £100 charge put on the account.

However, Mrs Binnie explained: "There are pictures from our honeymoon and wedding on the phone, so it is very valuable to me.

"It's just I think it is very cold and selfish of them to do this two days after his funeral," she explained.

The widow's brother then wrote to O2 explaining what had happened and attached a newspaper headline telling them what he had done.

"But it wasn't good enough for them, they still said they wanted the phone back," she said, before the phone giant decided to cancel the agreement and the threatened charges.

See: NI Soldier Killed In Afghanistan

(BMcC)