A BOLTON woman whose house was wrecked by fire over a year ago because of a fault in the airing cupboard is still waiting for the council to repair the damage.

The upstairs of Hazel Woodhouse's home in Lightbounds Road, Johnson Fold, was completely gutted when the blaze tore through the property in January last year.

Independent fire investigators blamed the fire on a electrical fault in the airing cupboard.

But Hazel claims Bolton Council is denying any responsibility and will only give her £1,000 compensation when the damage runs to triple that figure. Hazel, aged 46, even blames a massive row between herself and her son on the fire and the stress of having to live in a destroyed house.

Her son has since moved out and Hazel is now living with a friend until the house is sorted out.

She said: "The fire actually started in the immersion heater in the airing cupboard which falls under the council's responsibility.

"There was nothing I could have done to prevent that fire, but they said I shouldn't have had towels in there. What else is an airing cupboard meant for?

"The walls in my house are still black, the bathroom is ruined, carpets need replacing, the place needs re-plastering and I just don't see how the council can deny responsibility.

"The electricity should have been checked."

Hazel had been in the house for just 13 months before the fire and had only recently decorated.

She has contacted her local councillors to see if they can step in and help her and has also involved a solicitor in her fight for compensation.

She said: "This whole mess has made me ill. To offer £1,000 for a fire that was their fault and caused more than £3,000-worth of damage is just an insult."

A spokesman for Bolton Council said they couldn't comment because they have written to Mrs Woodhouse's solicitor and are currently waiting for a further response.

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