A BUILDING company has apologised to customers after they suffered faults with their new £100,000 homes.

Residents of Douglas Close on the Fernhurst Farm estate, Blackburn, complained about problems since moving into houses built by Fairclough Homes.

Now the company has said sorry for delays in fixing the faults and has pledged to rectify any further problems.

Carol Cottam, a mother of a 10-month-old-baby, said the faults started four months after she moved in and are continuing today, one year later.

Carol, 33, who bought the detached home for £101,000 in July 2002, said her nightmare began in October when tiles fell off the roof and hit her Rover 420 car.

Carol said she has complained to Fairclough Homes 10 times by letter and has also had an inspector from building watchdog, the National House Builders Council, visit her home.

The inspector investigated the tiles but found that the mortar on the roof was not to blame for them falling off.

Carol's neighbours have said they have also been upset over problems which have taken a long time to fix.

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, had a problem with her central heating at the beginning of winter.

She moved with her two children into Carol's house for two days before it was rectified.

Carol, who lives with her partner Paul Smith and daughter Rebecca, said: "I have just had enough. We are thinking of selling and going elsewhere.

"It is just getting worse with one thing after another.

"I am most upset about the after-sales care which we expected to get from Fairclough Homes but we don't."

Another neighbour, Adele Neil, 37, said: "We have had a number of problems with our plumbing and we have had to have carpets replaced.

"They do fix the problems we have but it takes a lot of time writing letters and ringing them up."

A spokesman for the builders said: "Fairclough Homes would like to apologise to its customers at Fernhurst Farm who have experienced delays in the company attending to their problems.

"The company has a very serious commitment to its after-sales care, and its policy in this area is continually looked at and improved, often following feedback from customers.

"The company has received a letter from Miss Cottam and is currently addressing the remedial issues raised by her to ensure the appropriate action is taken in accordance with the requirements of the NHBC warranty.

"Fairclough would also be happy to meet with the other customers to review any concerns they may have and take the appropriate action to rectify their problems should there be any."

A spokesman from the the NHBC said that they would help Miss Cottam with any further problems and offer advice and assistance.