A COUPLE whose home was damaged when the house next door went up in flames say they are unable to start rebuilding their lives.

David Bailey and his wife Barbara live next door to a house in Townsfield Road, Westhoughton, which was wrecked in January when equipment used to grow cannabis plants sparked a blaze.

The fire swept through the house, destroying its contents and the roof.

Since the incident, nothing has been done to repair the house - and the poor weather has taken its toll.

The owner of the home which was gutted by the fire was away on holiday when the blaze broke out on January 3.

He was arrested on his return and questioned on suspicion of cultivating cannabis. Mr Bailey, aged 61, said: "The house has just been left.

"We arranged for it to be boarded up properly because kids were getting inside.

"All the rubbish from the fire is still outside. We're just waiting for the rats to arrive when it gets warmer."

He said he has repaired some of the damage caused to his own house, including replacing the roof, but much of the work cannot be done until the adjoining house is repaired.

Mr Bailey said: "The wallpaper is starting to come off in our front and back room. We can't do anything about it until next door is sorted, there's no point.

We're stuck in limbo. It's a horrible situation to be in."

He said he and his wife had lived in the semi-detached property for the past 20 years, but had been left depressed by the situation.

"I just want to get my house sorted. The roof needs putting on next door at the very least.

"Then we can start to rectify the problems in our house.

It's so frustrating - we've done nothing wrong but we're getting so much grief."

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police: "A man arrested on suspicion of growing cannabis has been bailed until May 12." He said inquiries were continuing.