AN elderly widow's life savings were wiped out after she forked out £3,500 on pills, creams, herbal medicine and other medication she didn't need after being contacted by "pushy" telesales staff.

The 75-year-old was not targeted illegally, but her daughter wants tougher laws to protect vulnerable people from telesales patter.

Freda - we are not revealing her surname to protect her identity - placed six orders costing £2,226 over six months with one firm.

She also agreed to orders with another company, paid £850 for life insurance to two firms, and set up direct debits totalling around £100 to various charities that contacted her.

She even paid £40 to block cold calls - although they still kept coming to her home in Bishops Lydeard.

Freda, who is bipolar, did not open most of the items, instead stacking them in a cupboard.

The stash was discovered by her daughter, Dilly, who had travelled to help her mother pack up ahead of a move to Hertfordshire.

Dilly said: "Mum was embarrassed and wanted to hide everything so no-one knew, but they've cleaned out her savings accounts - all she's get left to live on is her pension.

"There were invoices for £600, £300 the next month - she didn't need any of the stuff.

"While I was there, she had around ten telesales calls a day from various companies.

"I checked her bank account and she had direct debits paying out £100 a month to various charities.

"She also paid £850 to New York and Thailand for life insurance and £40 to someone who said they'd stop her being cold called - but the calls continued.

"I'm sure this has happened to lots of people. There should be a cap on how much can be taken from elderly and vulnerable people."

Stedwick Fernandes, of Souza Healthcare, said Freda placed six orders with an average value of £371 over six months from last September.

Mr Fernandes said the firm does not take payments from customers without their consent and always refunds money for items returned within 30 days.

He added that Freda has not lodged a complaint, although he has been contacted by Dilly.

"Freda was pretty friendly to our sales associate and places the order only after they have established what she can afford at the time," said Mr Fernandes, who admits his sales team "can be pushy at times".

"They even set a call back date for the next order as well."

A Greenlife Wellness customer care representative said Freda placed four orders with the company between 2014 and last month, with a part refund and a full refund given on two of the items.

He added: "We also informed Dilly that we would be marking the customer's details as do not call.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused."