A DISABLED couple claim they have been without heat and hot water for a month.

Graham Bailey (37) and his partner Janet McGlashon (49) wear gloves indoors and sleep with coats on their bed to keep warm in their Seddon Close flat.

"We are in pain because of the cold. We both suffer from arthritis and I have metal plates in both my arms as a result of a car crash," explained Mr Bailey.

The flat is rented from Manchester Methodist Housing Association and they moved in almost a year ago.

Mr Bailey said: "About four weeks ago the heating went off and so I phoned the Association's helpline.

"They sent round a maintenance worker who told us he didn't have a clue about central heating. I kept phoning but they sent heating engineers who said it was an electrical fault and electricians who said it was a boiler problem."

Mr Bailey said that when the heating was supposedly mended it worked for a day and then went off again.

"We are sat here in the freezing cold day after day. It's making us depressed and we've been arguing a lot."

A spokesman for the Housing Association said: "We have arranged for an electrician, a central heating maintenance worker and our surveyor to sort out the problem this week. We have also asked for a full report and have supplied temporary heaters at the premises."