A WOMAN believes that she has been left living in unhealthy conditions after her burst boiler flooded her home just before Christmas.

A friend of Lesley Lancaster contacted The Northern Echo after she became concerned about her health.

The 48-year-old, of South Lea, Witton Gilbert, near Durham, is wary of using her heating after the boiler burst on December 23, according to her friend, Audrey Kennedy.

She said: “She has not been able to use her heating properly since just before Christmas and she is really cold.

When the boiler burst, it flooded her house, pulling the wallpaper off the walls and ruining her carpets.

“She has been onto the council to get them to help her sort it out, but all they have provided her with is a machine to collect the water, which would cost her too much to use.”

The manager of Durham City Homes, which owns the house, has defended the company’s actions.

Simon Bartlett said: “Miss Lancaster contacted us on December 23 to report that a pipe had burst due to the freezing weather.

“We visited the property the same day, when we repaired the burst pipe and fixed the heating system. The heating system has been fully functional since our visit.

“We are not able to repair the ceiling damage caused by the burst until the damp has dried out. We have done our best to help with this and have provided Miss Lancaster with a free dehumidifier.”