Middleton & Upsall

Two sisters who detest each other and no longer speak have lost the right to look after their elderly mother's finances. Their 97-year-old mother drew up a lasting power of attorney (LPA) eight years ago appointing them as her deputies so they could make decisions on her behalf if she became unable to manage her finances herself. The mother is now frail and in need of support but a judge has ruled that the sisters - a retired GP aged 61 and a radiographer aged 58 - are not fit people to carry out the task.

The ruling came when the case came before the Court of Protection, which looks after the interests of the elderly and the vulnerable. Judge Denzil Lush did not identify the family but said: The daughters don't see eye to eye. In fact, they detest each other.