WE can all make mistakes, but the one causing problems for elderly residents on an Accrington council estate would be more pardonable if it had not been allowed to persist for at least three years.

Windows in 60 homes were put in the wrong way round so that poisonous fumes from outdoor gas-heating vents could enter the houses. The solution was to screw the windows shut - leaving the residents without ventilation all these years.

Now, the council is asking them to wait until April to see if there is cash for them to get replacements. Surely, they are owed not just a plea for patience, but a sincere apology - and far faster action.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.