Ann Williams, 67, of Brockenhurst Drive, Hastings Hill, was shocked when an assessor from Lloyds TSB told her thousands of pounds-worth of damage was wear and tear.

She said: "What is the point of having insurance?

"For 48 years I have been insured and I have never put a claim into them."

Mrs Williams's wall collapsed into the field next to her home during the night in the Easter storms on March 22, narrowly missing her car.

Her husband David, who has since passed away, called the insurance company, put in a claim and was told to start looking for estimates.

The pensioners were told the repair work needed to restore the wall to its former glory is would cost between £3,000 and £5,000.

Mrs Williams postponed the claim when her husband, David, died at Sunderland Royal Hospital on April 12, following a major operation.

Once Mrs Willaims felt strong enough to cope, she contacted Lloyds TSB who sent an assessor to come and look at the damage.

Mrs Willaims said: The assessor said I didn't have a claim because it was caused by wear and tear.

"I went to the bank and told them I wasn't satisfied with this and they told me to take it to the Ombudsman."

The banking giant, which made profits of £4billion last year, insisted insurance was there to cover for unexpected damage from incidents such as floods and fire.

A Lloyds TSB spokesperson said: "While we have every sympathy with Mrs Williams, wear and tear exclusions are standard in most policies.

"Our loss adjusters visited the wall and said that the storm damage would not have happened if the wall had been kept in good repair
"Ultimately, it is a closed case of wear and tear."

Mrs Williams said the company had added insult to injury by putting up her premium from £27.81 to £35.75 a month.

She pointed out that if she withdrew her custom from the bank's insurers and saved £35 a month she would be able to pay for the new wall herself in three years.

She added: "I am a pensioner living on my own and I can't cope with this, I need someone to help me.

"The paperwork says 'home insurance you can rely on, cover when you need it' and 'cover when it matters'.

"Well I feel like this matters to me.

"If your boiler bursts you can claim so what difference does it make that my brick wall has fallen down?"

Mrs Williams said she was disgusted with the bank which she has been with since she was married and used to work for as a teller.

She vowed to end her policy and seek insurance elsewhere.