An 82-year-old man has been left without heating at his housing association home for almost a month after repairs were delayed.

Bernard Stone has been dependent on his children for shopping and cleaning since the death of his wife last September, and in March his boiler packed in.

Investigations revealed a leak, and contractors turned off the supply, but took a month to make any lasting repairs.

Mr Stone's son Robert said: 'The property has been in the family for years and years. My mum and dad have always lived that way and got the house through the council list.

'I went round one day when my dad said he had no heating or hot water. The boiler had no pressure and I spoke to someone from Swale Heating over the phone and got it working again.

'They arranged for someone to come out on March 15 to look at it and they turned it off because there was a slight leak. It wasn't working again until April 9.'

In the meantime Mr Stone had to boil water in the kettle and sit with two electric fan heaters running all day. His son also bought him an oil heater for the bedroom.

'Every time they came out they needed a new part - I think they came out six times. On April 9 they fixed it and it was working until the Monday evening when it developed a serious water leak in the ceiling.

'It hasn't done much damage but it has soaked the hallway and the carpets. They came out on Wednesday and turned everything off and made it safe - and that has been it.'

Mr Stone said his father was 'very frail' and dependent on his help.

'He has been on his own since September and he rarely leaves the house. He has got a walking frame to get around because he is so unstable. It is a worry. If he was to catch something minor it could be quite serious for him.'

Clarion Housing Group said a new appointment had been made for Mr Stone to have the problem fixed.

'We're sorry for the inconvenience caused to Mr Stone and his family due to the delay in restoring their heating and hot water,' said a spokesman.

'An appointment has been made for an engineer from our heating contractor, Swale Heating, to attend the Stones' property to fit the parts required and resolve the issue.'