ANGRY pensioners living in a Deepdale sheltered accommodation block claim they are being neglected by the council following a year-long catalogue of problems and shoddy repairs.

The elderly tenants have complained of damp patches appearing in their flats and rainwater leaking through the main roof.

Despite complaining to Preston Borough Council for the past 12 months, they say they have had a lack of support from its works department.

Pensioner, Peggy Mitchell, 80, who lives in a council flat at Deepdale House, off Deepdale Road, says she has to hold an umbrella over her head when in bed to keep the rain off her.

Peggy, who is blind in one eye, says she has now had enough. She said: "I've been trying to get the council to sort something out for the last twelve months.

"The rainwater is now seeping through the light fittings in the roof which is very worrying for me because all the council did was come round and take the light bulbs out and did nothing about the leaky roof.

"That's no good to me because now I have problems seeing anything in my flat due to my bad eye."

And her neighbours, retired couple Jack and Ellen Clark have been complaining for months about large, black damp patches appearing in their bathroom -- even though the council promised to fix it when they moved in last March.

Jack Clark, 77, (pictured) who is disabled following a lengthy naval career, says he and his wife are at their wits' end.

He said: "We had someone come from the council to look at the damp in our bathroom, but all he did was to give me some sealant and said 'you'll have to mix this in with the paint the next time you decorate your bathroom'."

"Can you see me, a disabled pensioner with a false knee, climbing up on a pair of stepladders to do a spot of DIY? I don't think so. It's a complete disgrace."

In a statement, Preston council apologised for the problems experienced by some of the residents and have promised to consider the possibility of building of a new main roof.

Deepdale councillor Terry Cartwright, who has taken up the residents' case, said: "I hope the council's housing department is serious about putting up a new roof, because I think it's the only way these problems can get sorted out once and for all.

"For elderly people to be treated in this way is not right, especially when they have worked all their life and paid their taxes."