A horse lover who wrote to her council asking for more facilities for riders received a reply criticising her grammar and suggesting she move to Devon.

Claire Triance wrote to Hastings Borough Council requesting pony access to a local country park and the letter was passed to East Sussex County Council.

However, the 43-year-old was shocked when her note was sent back with words scrawled at the bottom reading: "I never cease to be astounded at the poor standard of English used in correspondence. Suggest she moves to Devon!"

Claire, a support worker, says she was embarrassed and angry by the response to her letter - which she says was a draft copy she accidentally sent.

She said: "It had a few spelling mistakes and maybe there was some punctuation left out but that's no excuse to be rude.

"I felt awful afterwards. I felt quite crushed by it and a bit stupid.

"But at least the council say they are now going to look into my request."

Claire originally wrote to Hastings Borough Council's community and leisure department asking for land at a park to be opened up to horse riders.

She said: "What with traffic and so forth, riding is becoming increasingly difficult and I was hoping the council would consider opening up some land for horse tracks.

"The letter I wrote was just the draft but I sent it by mistake."

She also praised facilities 200 miles away in Devon which she said was a "horse rider's heaven" where miles of off-road riding is available on scenic routes.

The county council's rights of way officer, to whom the borough council had passed the letter, replied two months later and enclosed the copy of her original letter - complete with the insulting message.

Claire said: "I felt quite offended by it. If all they could comment about was my use of spelling and grammar then it's a bit disappointing."

After complaining, a county council representative visited in person to apologise and to discuss possible ways of creating a path for horses.

A spokesman said: "Unfortunately informal comments made on a file have found their way back to the particular correspondent who has justifiably been offended by them.

"The county council admits the error and apologises unreservedly for any offence caused. It is taking internal action on the matter."

She also received a letter of apology from Martin Jenks, parks and open spaces manager for Hastings Borough Council, to whom she originally sent the letter.

It read: "Your letter should have been passed to me to deal with and it certainly should not have had any comments added to it.

"I can only apologise for any upset this may have caused."

Mr Jenks added the council is considering plans for horse riders to use the country park.

Report by Michaela Banks