A DISABLED pensioner who was recently diagnosed with lung cancer is a prisoner in his eighth floor home - because of a step.

Dennis Marsden, 71, paid £850 for a disabled scooter but cannot use it because of the wooden step at the entrance to his council flat.

He fears he could spend his last days housebound because his pleas to the council have failed to get it lowered.

"I don't know how long I've got left. I could have just months but I am a prisoner in my own home," said Dennis, 71, who lives in Pendle House, Larkhill flats, Blackburn, with his wife Joan, 72.

"I cannot walk and I am just stuck at home wondering if I will ever be able to go into town again."

Dennis paid £850 for the scooter to get him mobile. The vehicle complied with council regulations by having a dry battery to prevent any fire hazard in the council flats.

He added: "I have complied with their regulations but I haven't been able to use it yet.

"Lowering the step is only three hours of a job, and it will let me get out and about. I will even pay for it. Surely the council can help me."

Dennis, former manager of Whitebirk Engineers, Blackburn, suffers from emphysema, and is due to undergo radiotherapy for cancer at the Christie Hospital, Manchester.

He says he has contacted the council many times without success.

Council staff promised an inspector would telephone him and arrange a time to inspect the problem but he has heard nothing since, he says.

A Blackburn Council spokesman said: "The delay is because the building services department needs to wait for an order from the housing department about the work.

"He has telephoned us. We will chase up this problem and get it resolved as soon as possible."

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