A PENSIONER was forced to use her sink to wash for two months after the company which manages council properties took two months to mend a broken shower.

Brenda Burton, 73, who lives in sheltered housing at Downland Court, Lancaster Road, Leytonstone, made numerous calls to Ascham Homes after her shower broke in October.

But the shower remained broken as Mrs Burton got increasingly angry and upset at not having proper washing facilities.

The shower was finally fixed on Christmas Eve and contractors gave Mrs Burton flowers by way of apology - the day the Guardian demanded to know why the pensioner had to wait so long.

Mrs Burton’s daughter Patricia Burton, 41, of Melon Road, Leytonstone, said: “I'm really angry about it. She is 73 years old, she shouldn't have just been left like that.

“First she was angry, then she was upset. Then she gave up hope about them fixing it.

“They made a big hole in the wall and left it for ages”

An Ascham Homes spokeswoman said: "Ascham Homes would like to apologise for the length of time taken to replace a key component to Ms Burton's shower.

“It is clear when investigating this issue further that both the process and communication with the customer has fallen below the high standards we deliver and expect for our customers.

"As a result of this failure in service Ascham Homes intends to completely review the process for order variation to ensure customers are not left waiting for orders to be completed in the future."

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