A DISABLED grandad says he is ashamed to live in his home after council bosses let the grass outside his flat grow to waist height.

Harry Halligan, 63, from Barnside, Euxton, has been a council tenant for 10 years since he broke his back at work.

The ex-lorry driver relies on the council to tidy his garden but his lawn has not been cut at all this year. He said: "In the past year they have not cut my grass once. I am ashamed to live here, it is a real mess."

Harry now has to visit his daughter's house to hang his washing out, as he cannot get through the long grass behind his ground floor flat.

He claims a council grass cutter who was visiting nearby properties had been told not to touch Harry's garden.

Harry, who has three young grandchildren, added: "Some men came round cutting the grass for all the other tenants but they said they'd been told not to do mine. I have been in touch with the council and my councillor but they cannot tell me anything.

"I just don't know why it hasn't been cut and I'm sick of it."

After the Citizen contacted the council, bosses admitted Harry's garden had been overlooked and pledged to rectify the situation.

Chorley Borough Council's head of housing Steve Lomas said: "We are aware that this property has been missed off the grounds maintenance schedule.

"Our staff will visit Mr Halligan's home to cut his grass."

So many concerns have been raised over the standards of the council's grass cutting service that it recently ordered a review into the situation.

The Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee will report on its findings in the coming months.