A disabled pensioner is having difficultly washing himself because of delays in redecorating his bathroom.

Tony Cornell and his wife Helen, both aged 70, have lived in their Stevenage Borough Council house in York Road since the early 1980s.

For the past three weeks building contractor Keepmoat has been making improvements to the house including replacing the tiles in the bathroom, which involved temporarily removing a handrail from the wall.

Tony has been disabled since losing his right leg in a car accident in 1967 and was told the work would be completed within 14 days.

The former surveying equipment technician, who also suffers from osteoporosis, said: “The 14 days has been and gone but it’s still not finished.

“Without the handrail it’s very precarious getting in and out of the bath and is a real struggle for me.

“I always knew it was going to be an inconvenience but I never thought that it would last so long.

“Some days nobody turns up but we still have to move everything in and out of the bathroom just in case they decide to come. I’m really fed up with the whole thing and am frustrated because I’ve been given promises that haven’t been kept.

“The whole thing has been really stressful for my wife, too, and there’s been a few tearful moments.

“I’m very disappointed it has taken so long and we have been put through all of this. We’re grateful for the work, but just wish the people doing it would stick to what they said they were going to do originally.”

The couple are having the work done as part of the Decent Homes scheme by Stevenage Borough Council to maintain its properties.

They have already had their house rewired and a new kitchen installed and are due to have their downstairs toilet upgraded after the bathroom is finished.

A spokesman for the borough council said: “We’re aware of the issue and are in contact with our contractors to get the work completed as soon as possible.

“We’re updating the tenant on the progress and will continue to do so until the work is complete.”