A COMPANY that has left a family without a kitchen for two months last night apologised for ruining their run-up to Christmas.

Restaurant worker Caroline Stewart, 52, of Delves Lane, near Consett, County Durham, spent £4,095 on a fitted kitchen at MFI, on the Team Valley Trading Estate in Gateshead.

Workmen hired by MFI arrived at the end of October to fit it and ripped out her old kitchen units, sink and oven.

But problems with some of the new materials meant they could not install it, so they left, promising to return several days later. However, they never returned.

Mrs Stewart wrote letters, complained to MFI head office and clocked up more than 200 miles making visits to the Gateshead store.

"I kept asking for the manager and was told he was either on holiday or away at a conference," she said.

"This has been a string of broken promises from the very beginning. They have ruined our Christmas.

"My house looks like squatters have been living in it.

"I haven't been able to put up a tree and there is no point buying a turkey when you have no oven."

Mrs Stewart, who lives with husband David, 53, and sons Jonathan, 22, and Leigh, 21, ordered the kitchen in August and paid the full amount at the beginning of October.

She got out a loan to pay for it and has taken a second job as a school cleaner to meet the repayments.

A spokesman for MFI said: "MFI apologises to Mrs Stewart unreservedly for the problems and disruptions we have caused her."

He said the store manager was going out to see Mrs Stewart today and fitters would arrive on Tuesday.

They expect to have the kitchen completed by Thursday - in time for Christmas.