A YOUNG mother's home was ransacked by thieves after council workers removed her burglar alarm.

Karen Jackson, aged 27, of Clarke Street, Heaton, says workmen for Bolton At Home refused to refit the alarm after they removed it while carrying out work on her house as part of a local improvement scheme.

Miss Jackson, who lives with her daughter, Sophie, aged six, claims that despite frequent phone calls to Bolton At Home, no-one returned to the property to complete the work.

And on Thursday, thieves broke into her home - trashing the house and stealing her daughter's Christmas presents. Miss Jackson, a manager at Crofters Park Nursery in Gaskell Street, said: "I'm so angry about what's happened.

"I own my own house, but three months ago I was contacted by Bolton At Home who were offering to install new windows and doors and a back gate to my property as part of a regeneration scheme.

"They had to dismantle my burglar alarm to put the new windows and doors in, but after they did it, they told me I'd have to pay to get the alarm reinstalled myself. I was furious.

"I contacted Bolton At Home and they said it wasn't their responsibility to reinstall the alarm. I wouldn't accept that, so this has been dragging on for weeks - and then on Thursday I got burgled."

Thieves stripped the house of valuables, including the TV, DVD player and Sophie's Christmas presents.

"I've had to change the locks and paid £150 to get the alarm fitted just to make sure we're safe at night," Miss Jackson said.

"I'm meant to be paying the £1,500 in April, but after everything I've been through, I'd rather go to court then give them the money for a job half done."

A spokesman for Bolton at Home said: "We have contacted this resident repeatedly regarding any problems with any outstanding work. Cards were left at the house and telephone calls were made in September and October.

"We then sent the occupant a formal repair defect form on October 26, but did not receive any response.

"The contactors also left a form just before Christmas asking if the work had been satisfactorily completed, but did not get a response."

Miss Jackson said: "I'm absolutely disgusted by what they've had to say. I've got my phone bill as evidence to show how many phone calls I've made to Bolton At Home chasing this up.

"They're just trying to get out of this but I've been in contact with my solicitor and I'm going to take this all the way."