A PENSIONER has been living in sub-zero temperatures without hot water or heating for a week.

Frail Alice Clements, aged 70, has spent the last seven days wrapped in blankets, unable to wash, cook or sleep.

Her central heating broke last Tuesday and engineers have so far been unable to fix it.

Since then, temperatures in Bolton have been as low as -4C degrees celsius, with no let up on the forecast for this week.

Mrs Clements suffers from an arthritic condition which means her hands cannot open properly, making it even harder for her to cope with the cold.

She said: “It’s ridiculous, but no-one can do anything about it. I’ve been sitting here shivering and lying in bed with blankets on. It’s terrible.

“I’m sitting here now with two jumpers on and a cardigan and my shawl wrapped around me.

“My hands are so cold, but I can’t put gloves on because of my condition.”

Mrs Clements reported her faulty central heating to Bolton at Home when it broke on Tuesday, and an engineer called at her bungalow in Farnworth, the next day.

Her boiler was fixed, but within five minutes of the workman leaving it broke again. Engineers then came back later that day and again on Thursday, but they told Mrs Clements that they could not fix her heating immediately because they needed parts.

Bolton at Home offered to install electric heaters at Mrs Clements’ home but she declined because the cost of running them would be too much.

The only source of heat she has now is a small electric fire given to her by one of the engineers.

Mrs Clements said: “I can’t go to sleep when it’s on because I’m afraid of it catching fire.

“I just want someone to come and fix my heating. Whether they can do it and they’ve just left me, I don’t know.”

A Bolton at Home spokesman said Mrs Clements’ problem was down to a faulty circuit board caused by a leak and was being dealt with as a priority.

The spokesman said: “Water damage caused by a leak in the boiler resulted in a risk of the boiler overheating and temporarily cutting out. “Repair work had alleviated the problems, leaving the boiler operational and able to be reset, while a specialist thermostat was ordered.

“Bolton at Home can assure Mrs Clements that the new thermostat will be delivered and fitted at the beginning of this week.”

julian.thorpe@ theboltonnews.co.uk