A WOMAN whose car and home were damaged in the Essar oil spill says she has been left with a £2,500 bill after the oil giant ‘refused’ to pay up.

Katie Gillard’s BMW was one of dozens of cars sprayed with oil following a leak from the Stanlow refinery on July 31, forcing the company to pay for a major clean-up.

But despite specialists turning out to clean the car twice, as well as the windows on Miss Gillard’s three-storey home on Cambridge Road, Ellesmere Port, traces of oil still remained on both.

Miss Gillard informed Essar, which then instructed her to take the car to be washed, waxed and buffed, which again did not successfully eliminate the oil.

Eventually the refinery suggested taking the car to a BMW dealership.

“Essar then sent a loss adjuster to inspect the car and property and they agreed the car should be sent to BMW, recommending it be cleaned again and all rubbers and plastics replaced,” said Miss Gillard, 25.

“They asked us to obtain a pro-forma invoice from BMW for the repair and cleaning of the car and that someone would come out to come and look at the house.

“But when we sent this to Essar, they told us they were not in a position to authorise the payment and were passing it on to insurance.

“That was weeks ago and we have heard nothing from them, leaving us £2,500 out of pocket.

“We feel we’ve had no alternative but to involve a solicitor.”

Miss Gillard’s solicitor issued a letter to Essar, telling the company it had seven days to action the payment, receiving no reply.

She added: “We feel we have got nowhere with this.

“I really think a big company like them should be more helpful.”

Essar spokesman Ed Brady said in a statement: “The cleaning of the windows is scheduled to take place in the next two weeks.

“With regards to the vehicle, Miss Gillard’s solicitors have been in touch with our insurers and a response will follow in due course.”