Elderly residents living in sheltered housing have been left without hot water for more than two weeks.

Residents at Hobbs Court in Vardon Road, Stevenage, have not had access to running hot water since December 23.

One resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said he has had to use boiled kettle water to wash and says the situation is unacceptable.

“There are many elderly people living here and for them not to have access to hot water throughout the entire Christmas period is ridiculous. We have made many complaints and we are constantly being told it is being dealt but we don’t understand why it has taken so long. I really don’t feel this is acceptable.”

Cllr Anne Webb, representing Stevenage Borough Council whicj owns the building, said: “During the Christmas period I contacted staff and asked them to visit Hobbs Court, with our contractors, after residents informed me they had no hot water.

“Our contractors have been working hard over the past few weeks to fix the fault with the heating equipment and are continuing to visit the site twice a day to try to ensure that the equipment is working and that residents are not experiencing further problems.”