A MAN who has spent the past 20 years without electricity is to have the power to his home restored.

George Siswick, 79, has been without power since a dispute over a bill.

But now, thanks to the efforts of his kind-hearted neighbours, he is soon to be reconnected.

It will mean a bright new 2005 for his cottage home in Cold Royd Lane, Kirkheaton, where he lives by candlelight, has no phone and still uses an outside toilet.

Mr Siswick has been without electricity for 20 years since failing to pay a bill.

For the last two years he has been trying to get his electricity supply reconnected - with no success.

Then caring neighbours Susan and Donald Rayner, 55, stepped in to try and get power back to the house.

Mrs Rayner said: "He uses candles for light. It's like going back 100 years. You wonder how can he live like this.

"There's no bathroom. He has to boil water for everything. It's absolutely disgusting that he has been left like this."

The couple said Mr Siswick had been trying to get his electricity back for two years.

They stepped in 10 months ago to help, but said they had received very little help from power companies or Kirklees Council.

Mrs Rayner said: "We involved social services for Mr Siswick's health, but they just put in a couple of handrails and walked away.

"We have been passed from pillar to post in a vicious circle."

The couple, along with Mr Siswick, have managed to get an electricity line to the house - but it is not yet active.

Mrs Rayner said there had been delays as all organisations waited for each other to do the necessary work.

But now there is hope.

A Kirklees spokesman said: "We had engineers at the house just before Christmas to connect up circuits inside."

And British Gas spokesman Stephen Chawke had even better news.

He said: "Vulnerable customers are always a priority for us and we've done everything we can to assist Mr Siswick in getting his new electricity supply.

"It appears Mr Siswick has been without an electricity supply for a number of years and has made alternative arrangements throughout this time.

"We are pleased Mr Siswick chose us to be his new supplier, but we relied on Yorkshire Electricity Distribution to install the supply before we could arrange for a new meter for him.

"Mr Siswick got in touch on Christmas Eve to say that the initial work had been completed. So we are now arranging for the meter to be fitted.

"We are confident that Mr Siswick's supply will be restored very shortly," added Mr Chawke.