PENSIONERS were left 'hitting the roof' when slates from their next door neighbour's council house fell on TWO separate occasions, each time smashing into their home. But both times the council's insurers refused to pay up, leaving householder, Mr Ernest Cornwell, to sort out the mess. The first accident happened in February 1997 when the roof tiles from next door slipped down and hit the gable end of Mr Cornwell's home, damaging the wall and the meter box.

But on the second occasion, last Christmas, when tiles again fell, they damaged part of Mr Cornwell's roof.

However, the council's insurers refused to pay up on both occasions. Mr Cornwell, who owns his house, said: "They gave me loads of excuses why they wouldn't be paying up.

"At the end of the day, the tiles fell twice from a council owned house onto mine, damaging it through no fault of my own.

"Yet both times, I have been left footing the bill through my insurance. It seems very unfair."

On the first occasion, the damage to Mr Cornwell's home came to about £50 to repair.

However, on the second occasion, the damage was extensive. Mr Cornwell said: "The damage came to £550 to repair and although my insurance covered the cost, there is now the possibility that my premiums may go up."

Mr Cornwell's problems with the falling roof slates echoed the problems suffered by Mr Tony Owens, from New Bury, who was featured in the BEN last week.

His vehicle was damaged after a slate from a neighbour's council home fell onto it.

His claim was also turned down by the Council's insurers.

However a council spokesman explained: "All claims of this type against the council are passed on to our insurers.

"The decision on each claim is investigated by the insurers.

"It is their decision as to whether the council is found to be liable. If this is found to be the case, then our insurance company will pay up."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.