FRAIL pensioner Percy Taylor, who had been left a virtual prisoner in his home because of a backlog in Social Services, has now been found a bungalow.The plight of the 76-year-old, who only has one arm, was highlighted in a November issue of the Evening Star.

FRAIL pensioner Percy Taylor, who had been left a virtual prisoner in his home because of a backlog in Social Services, has now been found a bungalow.

The plight of the 76-year-old, who only has one arm, was highlighted in a November issue of the Evening Star.

With worsening arthritis, Mr Taylor took more than 15 minutes to climb the three flights of stairs to his council flat, but despite repeated requests to be rehoused he had been caught up in a Social Services backlog which meant he had not been assessed.

But two weeks ago, Mr Taylor was found slumped in a town underpass close to his flat.

Thankfully, Evening Star reader, Jan Denney, had spotted him earlier in the day and recognised him from the article in the paper.

As some Christmas shoppers passed him by, Ms Denney and her partner, Noel Garnham, called the paramedics and laid Mr Taylor on a coat to keep him warm.

She said: "There were some people who just walked past him and said that he was drunk."

She said she was shocked at the state the elderly man was in and has now taken him under her wing.

The following day she called the hospital and took him toiletries and pyjamas, a cardigan to keep him warm and lots of books.

She has since visited Percy and befriended him, taking him other gifts such as slippers to keep him comfortable.

She said: "I was a bit short on cash as it is Christmas but I went around the charity shops.

"I opened the presents for him and he was lovely and really overwhelmed.

"We asked if he had any family that he wanted us to get in touch with but he could not talk to us."

Ms Denney from Hampton Road, Ipswich believes that Mr Taylor has a son and feels that he should be made aware of the situation.

She was so concerned that he might have to spend Christmas alone that she offered to have him at her house for a few hours on Christmas Day, although sadly Mr Taylor was unable to leave hospital where he is still being treated.

Ms Denney, 47 said: "I remembered reading about him in the paper and talking about it with my partner because it was so sad."

Mr Taylor had written to Ipswich Borough Council in March to request a ground floor flat but before they could move him a Social Services assessment had to be carried out.

Someone from Social Services had been to visit him in but no assessment had been carried out and the last Mr Taylor said he had heard from anyone was in July.

Now the assessment has been carried out it was found that Mr Taylor could be moved.

A spokesman from Ipswich Borough Council said that a new place had now been found for him.

He said: "We made Percy an offer of a bungalow on December 19. We have been in touch with his social worker and wish Percy a speedy recovery and a happier New Year."

He added that the bungalow would still be available for Mr Taylor when he comes out of hospital.