A DISABLED man has been told he can not have his council house kitchen replaced even though it is rotting and the sink leaks.

Peter Richards, 64 from Mill Lane in High Ongar has been living in the property for five years with his wife Iris but the kitchen units were installed before he moved in.

He said: “They weren't fitted properly and now we have all sorts of problems. It's rotten and it smells and we have to put a bowl underneath the sink to catch the water.

"It's the council's responsibility to provide us with another one, but they won't do it because they said the units were fitted privately so it's not their problem and have told me I need to do it myself.”

Ex-serviceman Mr Richards was badly injured in Northern Ireland and has two replacement knees, is diabetic and partially sighted.

He said: “There's no way I can install a new kitchen myself and it would cost more than £600 to get someone in to do it which I can't afford. I think it's disgraceful.

"The tenancy has changed from one person to another so it's not my fault the units weren't fitted correctly. But now I'm suffering for that. All I want is a new sink.”

Mr Richards has been asking the council for nearly a year for his kitchen can be replaced but each time he is turned down.

He added: “I have written letters complaining, but no one listens. I asked them in January, then again in April and quite recently. I don't know what to do now, we can't carry on like this.”

A spokeswoman for the district council said they were looking into the problem and would provide a statement soon.