AN IPSWICH man has today spoken of his anger at being left without gas for nearly four weeks.Suffering from arthritis and asthma, Douglas Osbourne claims that his lack of heating has left him wheezy and unwell.

AN IPSWICH man has today spoken of his anger at being left without gas for nearly four weeks.

Suffering from arthritis and asthma, Douglas Osbourne claims that his lack of heating has left him wheezy and unwell.

The 55-year-old had the gas supply cut from his St George's Street home on Christmas Eve after a neighbour smelt gas coming from the property.

The boiler was declared unsafe and was due to be repaired on January 5 – operators finally called at the property on Wednesday but even then the problem was not fixed.

Mr Osbourne said: "I'm in my fifties and on income support because I can't work.

"I had to get electric heaters and I'm on a card meter so it is expensive.

"It's freezing at the moment and I'm having to use blankets to keep warm."

"The council have given me electric boiler for hot water but I've burnt myself on it twice because of my arthritis."

Last week contractors at the council told the Evening Star that the gas valve needed was not available from suppliers. They said the boiler would be repaired as soon as possible.

And though a technician has now called at the property Mr Osbourne was given no date for completion of the work.

He said: "The man told me he had the wrong part and went away to get another one – he came back later but said he couldn't fix it and didn't know when it would be done.

"I'm really depressed by it and it's costing me a fortune – my electric used to cost £6 a week now I'm putting in about £20."

A spokesman for Ipswich Borough Council said: "We regret that we have been unable to restore Mr Osbourne's boiler to full working order.

"One new part has been fitted but another is now needed and we are chasing up the manufacturers for early delivery.

"We can only hold our hands up to this and apologise but we have given temporary heaters and hot water system to Mr Osbourne."

The council insisted that the second fault could only be detected once the first had been fixed – engineers are now expected to call at the property today to complete the work.

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