AN arthritic pensioner in Little Hulton was left in the cold after details to connect her gas supply went missing. Sylvia Mason, aged 65, expected everything to be switched on when she moved into her Eastwood Avenue bungalow on Monday morning. But instead she was left sitting in the cold for almost 36 hours and also with no means of cooking.

Her daughter Julie Goodwin said: "I have been talking to them since Tuesday last week to get this supply switched on.

"They knew she was moving in on Monday, but when I phoned Transco they said there was nothing they could do as Northern Electric had not registered the job."

Transco is the installation and gas service company which carries out the technical work for suppliers such as Northern Electric since the British Gas monopoly was lifted.

Mrs Goodwin said: "Mum is diabetic and riddled with arthritis so she needs the warmth, but she is so cold. We tried to get her to stay with us but she won't because all her things are in the bungalow.

"We have had to cook meals for her and take them round to her wrapped in silver foil. It's terrible."

A spokesman for Northern Electric said: "The notification has gone missing and we had no records to connect the supply until we were contacted on Monday.

"We will be investigating what has happened and will be writing to Mrs Mason to explain what went wrong and to apologise."

Transco had now done the work and Mrs Mason has a gas supply.

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