Cathedral fundraisers have launched an investigation after a woman who died was sent a letter asking her to change her will to bequest money to church funds.

The letter, from the Right Reverend John Packer, the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, was addressed to Gladys Mitchell, of Barnard Castle, County Durham, seven months after her death in January.

The error comes four weeks after the cathedral was accused of preying on the elderly when a 99-year-old woman received a similar letter. Both letters ask the recipients to consider leaving money in their wills to help with the upkeep of Ripon Cathedral, North Yorkshire. Mrs Mitchell's daughter-in-law has condemned the letter as tasteless.

Heather Mitchell, of Barnard Castle, said her mother-in-law had been a keen churchgoer, and used to donate money to churches in and around the town.

In the year before she died, she had Communion brought to her at her house.

Mrs Mitchell said: "She would have been appalled at this. They are targeting old people who went to church.

"It's one thing to ask for help, but to ask an elderly person to change their will is another thing entirely. I think it's disgusting."

Last month, the family of 99-year-old Edith Hunt, of Leeds, also spoke of their disgust after the pensioner received a letter from the bishop. A spokesman for the Ripon and Leeds Diocese said the cathedral was a historic building which received very little funding and had to rely on charitable donations for its upkeep and building work.

He said: "We will be looking at how these errors were made.

"There were more than 5,000 letters sent to people we had on a mailing list as having some connection with the cathedral.

"We only received a handful of complaints but we recognise it needs to be done differently "We wish to apologise wholeheartedly for any upset caused and if the persons involved wish to get in touch, the bishop will contact them to apologise personally."

Although, Barnard Castle is in the Durham diocese, it is close to the border of Ripon and Leeds.

In March, this year an administrative error meant Gladys Mitchell was sent a 1p council tax bill from Teesdale District Council.