A woman who was injured in an armed robbery thought life might take a turn for the better when she had an operation to help her recover from the incident.

But instead, Marilyn Parrott, who used to work at Oxford's Morris Motors Athletic and Social Club in Cowley, says things are worse - because she has been left with the £3,000 hospital bill.

Mrs Parrott claims the club committee told her it would pay for her to have the operation done privately, as she was in considerable pain and faced a lengthy wait with the NHS.

But the club yesterday denied such an arrangement had been made - and Mrs Parrott, whose husband Chris was almost beaten to death while on duty as club steward there - has received warnings from debt collectors.

Mrs Parrott, 53, who together with her husband has now left Oxford for "peace of mind", said: "The committee said 'don't worry, we'll definitely pay the hospital bill, no problems'.

"It's totally unfair to be left in the lurch like this. We have done so much for the club and been through a lot. We put our lives on the line."

The robbery happened in November 2003 and saw Mr Parrott wrestle the offender to the ground as he made off with takings from the club. Mrs Parrott was pushed to the floor during the incident, smashing bones in her knee as she fell.

She said: "I was in a lot of pain for months afterwards and was having to drag myself about. We were living above the club and I was struggling to even make it up the stairs.

"I waited and waited on the NHS. I thought the committee was being nice when they told me to get it done privately. I asked for something in writing, which I got, and had the operation about a year ago."

But Michael Kelly, the club secretary, said Mrs Parrott had only received an e-mail from another committee member, telling her the club "should be" responsible for the debt.

He said: "We are a members' club and can't go spending members' money like that.

"The e-mail she was sent was the opinion of a member, not that of the committee, and all it said was the club should be morally responsible for the debt if the insurers didn't pay.

"The committee has told her what she needs to do to make a claim and she hasn't done it. She needs to see a solicitor and pursue a claim against the club's insurers. Instead, all she wants to do is get the club to pay the bill."

Mrs Parrott yesterday told the Mail: "My solicitors have told me I won't be able to make a third party claim, because it was a criminal incident rather than an accident."

She added: "I have been having counselling but something like this just puts me back to square one."

Mr Parrott is still receiving hospital treatment following a second attack, last March.

They continue to work as club stewards, adding: "It is smashing where we are now."