A DISABLED man who developed frostbite in his freezing home says a government scheme to provide heating for the vulnerable has failed him.

Michael Clements, of Warren Road, in Leyton, says parts of his house have been just above zero temperature at times, after repeated efforts to get storage heaters repaired by government contractors over the last 18 months failed.

Following a particularly harsh winter, the 68-year-old, who has debilitating arthritis, now has frostbite in his finger and is demanding to know why the Warm Front scheme has failed him.

The scheme was set up to ensure pensioners have adequate heating in their homes.

The former civil servant said: “It is extremely cold in my kitchen and hall. Then two weeks ago my finger turned black. It is extremely painful and difficult to do anything with my right hand.

"I have been told by doctors to keep an eye on it so it doesn't spread and hope I don't have to have it amputated.”

The father-of-three said he complained to Eaga, which has a contract with the government worth £800million over three years, and sub-contractor Dimplex, who supplied and fitted the heaters.

He said one of two broken heaters was repaired but stopped working again weeks later and he has had no response from either companies since.

In the meantime, he has been using a third heater in his bedroom and two electric heaters he bought himself, which have increased his electricity bill enormously.

He said: “I have been on the internet and was appalled by the amount of complaints about this scheme.

“There is an attitude that money spent on old people is just a waste and we should just allow them to die.”

A spokeswoman for the Department for Energy and Climate Change said an annual report into the Warm Front scheme published at the end of last year showed that nine out of ten customers were happy with the service.

She added: “We feel proud of that statistic, but obviously there are some cases when there are things which haven't gone right and Eaga will rectify those problems as soon as possible.

“We have regular meetings with Eaga. If anyone is unhappy, that needs to be looked at by Eaga.”

A spokesman for Eaga said: "Our records show that Mr Clements had been in direct contact with Dimplex regarding his heating system and this has led to some confusion over the repair.

"We have now arranged for an electrician from Dimplex to make a repair visit and this has been confirmed to the customer.

“It has clearly been distressing for Mr Clements and naturally we regret the upset caused."

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