A MAN claims he is forced to live behind barricades to keep out criminals because the front door of his council house is held on by felt tacks.

William Ogden says he only moved into the house in Pimlott Road, Hall i' th' Wood, because he was told a list of problems would be remedied.

But more than two weeks later, 41-year-old Mr Ogden, who is registered disabled, says doors are still held on by felt nails, and a kitchen window still has a gaping hole where an extractor fan should be.

He says the council is "rubbing salt in the wound" by having workmen busy tackling problems of the house next door - which is currently empty.

Mr Ogden said: "I have to barricade the doors for security. I cannot leave the house without getting someone to sit in it for me.

"There are no locks on the windows and I have had to wire them up. Even so I have already had two attempted break ins.

"The estate is crime-ridden. There are youths out on the streets every night, and my elderly neighbour next door is bullied and targeted constantly."

Among the long list of repairs which need carrying out are:

The broken front door casing;

A front room which has patchy Artex and badly fitted casing around pipes;

A missing extractor fan in kitchen;

Walls and ceiling in kitchen which need plastering;

Tiles in kitchen which need grouting;

Woodwork in the kitchen which does not fit correctly;

Casing surrounding a door leading into the kitchen held together by felt nails;

Kitchen units with no screws in them, so the doors fall off when opened;

Hallway door to kitchen does not close;

No handrail on staircase;

Bedroom door casing split and held together by felt nails;

Pipe casing in both bedrooms incorrectly fitted;

Toilet door with hole kicked through it;

Front gutter blocked with birds' nests;

Flags at back broken and missing;

Gate and fence at back, part broken, part missing;

No keys for double glazed window locks;

Leaking pipe in bathroom.

Mr Ogden said: "No one should have to live in a house in this state. I moved from an attic flat into the house because I was assured that the repairs would be carried out.

"Even so, when I looked around the house it had no electricity and shutters on the window, and I never dreamt it was in quite the state it is."

Mr Ogden, who suffers from psoriasis, asthma, bronchitis and arthritis, is visited each weekend by his eight-year-old son who is also registered disabled, suffering from water on the brain.

Despite his disabilities, Mr Ogden is searching for work, but he said: "I am afraid to leave the house."

Bolton Council has promised to investigate.

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