THE Arnside couple who lost their life savings in an online banking scam have welcomed plans for victims to be reimbursed in future - but say it is "a hollow victory" for them.

Last month the Gazette reported on the plight of cafe and gift shop owners Jane and Stephen Caldwell, who were tricked out of more than £100,000 by fraudsters.

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Their case has been highlighted by Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron, who has welcomed plans for a new reimbursement scheme for people duped into transferring money to fraudsters' bank accounts.

If the proposals by the Payment Systems Regulator go ahead, they would come into force at the end of September 2018. However, cases that have already happened - such as Mr and Mrs Caldwell's - would not be looked into.

The couple, who have three sons, say they are still living every day with the effects of last January's traumatic events. They have praised the help given by Mr Farron, who said he was "very encouraged" about plans for the new scheme.

But he added: "However, this is hollow news for people like Jane and Stephen who have already been through the trauma of losing money to heartless criminals.

"For the proposals to be fully effective, the regulator needs to allow people who have been victims of financial fraud in the past to be able to claim back their money."

Mrs Caldwell told the Gazette: "We welcome with open arms that they are going to put something in place" but described it as "a hollow victory" for her and her husband.

She said local bank branch closures had effectively forced customers into using online banking. "Even in Arnside we don't get the NatWest van that used to come on Friday afternoon any more," she said. "These fraudsters are professional criminals and they have all the banter; everything I raised a query about he could very, very believably counter, so I can't think I'm going to be - or had been - the only victim, and I don't think I will be in future."

She said it was great that online banking customers were now given clearer warnings about transferring money. However, she and her husband were "still left with nothing", even though their case had helped to educate people of the dangers of online scams.

"While I want to educate people, it will be 12 months in January since this happened and it's still raising its ugly head and it's still very, very raw and painful," added Mrs Caldwell.

Mr Farron's office said more than 19,000 people lost a total of more than £100 million in bank scams in the first six months of this year, according to the Payment System Regulator. More than three quarters of that money has not been returned.