BUNGLING central heating engineers left a woman without hot water for over two weeks.

Retired nurse Christina Hanson, 62, had central heating fitted at her home in Tintern Avenue, Golcar, on April 11.

As she is on a low income and disabled - she suffers from osteoarthritis - it was paid for by a Government scheme, Warm Front.

This scheme, run by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, aims to wipe out fuel poverty in Britain through better heating and energy efficiency.

Warm Front commissioned engineers to do the work for Mrs Hanson.

But they left a catalogue of problems in their wake.

Although the heating works, Mrs Hanson has been unable to get any hot water since the system was fitted.

She has been relying on friends, family and neighbours for baths, showers and washing facilities.

She said: "I can't have a bath at home, which I used to do a lot to ease the pain of my osteoarthritis.

"I have been away two weekends because I can't cope with being here."

The fitters also flooded her utility room by leaving a tap running when they tested the water pressure.

The vinyl floor was waterlogged and has become mouldy.

They removed an old immersion heater and water tank from a cupboard in Mrs Hanson's back bedroom and installed the new combination boiler.

But while doing so they drilled through the wall into Mrs Hanson's bedroom, leaving three unsightly holes.

Mrs Hanson complained and was told it was low water pressure that was causing the hot water problem.

But Yorkshire Water engineers said the pressure was adequate.

Mrs Hanson said: "No money has been exchanged, but that is not the point. They can't just do half a job.

"I would have carried on with oil- filled radiators if I had known this would happen."

A spokeswoman for the Eaga Partnership - which manages Warm Front for the Government - said they were trying to solve Mrs Hanson's problems.

The spokeswoman said carpets would be cleaned and a plasterer was coming to fix the wall. Ways of fixing the damaged vinyl floor are also being looked at.

The spokeswoman said the lack of hot water was caused by a dramatic drop in water pressure after the installation of the boiler. She added: "Installers have been in discussions with Yorkshire Water about this.

"We are sending an inspector back to the property to double-check the installation, to ensure it has been carried out to our high standards.

"We understand Mrs Hanson's concerns and our installers are working hard to make sure the matter is resolved.

"We will continue to work with Mrs Hanson to ensure she is fully satisfied."