Common sense and common courtesy have prevailed following complaints about the way a widower was treated by council officials.

Terry Pemberton was labelled a "tolerated trespasser" in his home of 28 years by Brighton and Hove City Council.

Following his wife's death, Mr Pemberton was sent a rent book addressed to him not by name but as "tolerated trespasser".

The council insisted the term was legally acceptable but to a man grieving for his late wife, it not only seemed an insensitive title but compounded his misery.

Whatever the legal position of the council, the term offended and hurt Mr Pemberton.

After a change of heart, council officers have decided not to use the cold, insensitive term in future in order to avoid others like Mr Pemberton taking offence.

It costs nothing to be civil and polite to people, even while carrying out official policy.

This is the least Mr Pemberton and others like him deserve, as the authority has acknowledged.

Perhaps now the council can be forgiven its trespasses.