WIDOW Rita Lister is demanding her money back after the sorry suitors sent to her by a dating agency fell well short of her expectations.

Ms Lister, 48, told Ice Breakers that she wanted a tall, attractive, non-smoker with a good head of hair. She paid £89 for the introduction to what she hoped would be the man of her dreams.

But the mum-of-one is furious after being sent a succession of short, bald, smokers, none of whom she found remotely attractive.

Ms Lister, of Sunderland, is now considering legal action to get her money back if she does not receive a refund.

She said: "It took a little bit of courage to approach a dating agency, because you never know what you are getting into.

"But I was on my own and wanted to find someone for some companionship and maybe something more.

"When I met the people at the agency I told them exactly what I wanted and I was very specific about it.

"They said they had just the people for me and I was looking forward to meeting the men.

"But when their details arrived at my house I could not believe it. Every one of them was under 5ft 6ins, they were all smokers and every one of them was bald."

Ms Lister tried to contact the agency, but discovered it had closed down.

Jennifer Hughes, the owner of Ice Breakers, said the agency was wound up because of ill health. But she said she would try to reimburse unhappy customers to avoid court action