A DISABLED woman fears she could be left homeless by a mix-up over installing utility services at her new home, which has prevented her moving in.

But the utilities companies and the housing association which built the house can't agree on when the applications for services were made, or say when the problem will be solved.

Heike Rourke, who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and osteoperosis, has to use a wheelchair to get about.

She was told she could move into her new bungalow, built by Space New Living housing association, at the beginning of August.

The specially-adapted property is on the Cornwall Place development, in Warwick Road, Church.

Gas mains at the development are to be fitted by Transco, with United Utilities supplying water and electricity.

Contractors Ashworth Construction (North West) Ltd say applications were submitted in March for the electricity and May for the water and gas.

In the meantime, Mrs Rourke, 41, says she has already served her four-week period of notice at her current property, in Edgar Street, Huncoat and her landlord will be putting the house on the market soon.

She said: "They measured up the wheelchair for the height of the kitchen two and a half months ago and said I could move in last month."

"Because I'm in rented property I have handed in my four weeks' notice and the date has already come and gone. My landlord is quite tolerant, but he wants to sell the property.

"Space have now said it could be November and I have nowhere else to go. The bungalow was finished last month. I think it's absolutely outrageous what they are doing.

"I'm depressed and upset about it all. I feel like a prisoner because I can't move around in this house. Every day I spend in here it's agony for me."

A spokesman for Space said: "It's been an absolute nightmare trying to get the services on site. It's been about three months. They were ordered in plenty of time.

"We arranged with Mrs Rourke for her to move in on August 4, fully expecting everything would be in place and sorted out.

"We put an order in and they sent quotes and we expected it would follow through with the building programme, but it got to a point when they hadn't been in touch and we started chasing it a good few months ago.

"They need to get their house in order because they cause huge problems for the people moving in."

A spokesman for Transco said a quote for the works, issued on August 7, had been accepted by Space on August 20, and they had been trying to contact them to get on site.

"Everything we have done has been in compliance with our standards of service. We have made repeated attempts to contact them since we got the quote accepted on August 20."

A spokesperson for United Utilities said: "The electricity supply and services was sorted out, now it was the water that had delays.

"The particular plot this lady is moving into can be connected on an existing water main rather than coming off a new main. So we could have arranged for that if the developer had asked us.

"The developers have not put in service pipes from our tap to the property. We have advised the developer to do so and connect up."