Boy, 5, given £15.95 invoice for missing birthday party

Derek (right) originally thought the "no show" bill was a joke. Credit: SWNS

A five-year-old boy was given an invoice and his parents threatened with court action after he missed a friend's birthday party.

Alex Nash from Torpoint, Cornwall, inadvertently brought the £15.95 "no show fee" home after it was slipped into his school bag.

His father, Derek Nash, said he originally thought the letter was a joke. However, the birthday boy's mother is now threatening to take him to the small claims court.

The fee arose after Derek realised late on that his daughter was due to go on a day trip with her grandparents, leading him to pull Alex out of the party as he wanted to join her.

He claims he was unable to let the mother know as "by this time we did not have a contact number, email or an address".

A copy of the invoice placed in Alex's school bag. Credit: SWNS

After Alex said the invoice had been put in his bag by his teacher, Alex complained to the school's head, who apologised.

He then visited the boy's mother, Julie Lawrence, to tell her he would not be paying the fee.

After threatening the court action, Lawrence said she had no regrets.

The manager of the Plymouth ski and snowboard centre, where the party took place, said they would not send invoices to individuals but did require confirmation on numbers two days before the event to plan food and spaces.