A DISABLED pensioner was distraught to find a treasured family hierloom smashed close to where builders had been working.

The raw iron garden table owned by Kevin Fleisch, 65, was left to him by his aunt and had been in the family for 50 years.

But on returning from an art class yesterday, Mr Fleisch was horrified to find the glass top of the table smashed, with shards left all over his garden in Low Hall Lane, Walthamstow.

Roofers contracted to by Ascham Homes, the council’s housing manager, had beeen working at the site and had erected scaffolding near the table.

But they had begun taking the scaffolding down when Mr Fleisch left and had left by the time he made the discovery at 4pm.

Mr Fleisch who no longer works, as a result of suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome, said: “I was shocked at what I found when I got back home.

“The table was smashed up with glass everywhere.

“The builders had not even bothered to leave a note for me or anything to say sorry. They just left it for me to clear up.

“That table has been in my family for about 50 years and I can remember using it at my aunty's house when she lived in Middlesbrough."

Mr Fleisch has contacted Ascham Homes which has sent a contractor to assess the damage.

He added: “I have already used the table a few times this month and I was looking forward to using it a bit more this summer.

“I am very upset. That table means a lot to me.”

A spokeswoman for Ascham Homes, said: "The scaffold to Mr Fleisch's property was dismantled yesterday and the property inspected by the Site Manager after the work was completed and the damaged table was not noticed.

"The Site Manager and Resident Liaison Officer have visited Mr Fleisch this morning, immediately after they were aware of the issue, and they offered to replace or repair the table.

"Mr Fleisch has accepted the offer of repair. An appointment has already been made for a metal repairer to visit and assess the damage on Monday.

"A course of action will be agreed with Mr Fleisch to make good the table.

"Ascham Homes, and their contractors, regret that this damage has occurred and will work with Mr Fleisch to rectify the situation."

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