Council slammed for leaving couple with no heating

A vulnerable couple have slammed Gateshead council for leaving them with no heating all weekend - just days after they were left with a leaking boiler.

- By KRISTY DAWSON

Pamela Turnbull, 73, and her husband Dennis, 76, have lived in a bungalow on Victoria Road in the Teams area of Gateshead for 24 years.

The property, which is owned by Gateshead Council, has been adapted for Pamela, who is in a wheelchair. She has a number of health issues including deep vein thrombosis and cirrhosis of the liver. The couple’s boiler broke on Saturday and they were left without any heating or hot water all weekend. They were told by the person who answered the Gateshead Council out of hours number that nobody would be able to look at the job until Monday.

They have had to wear extra layers and their daughter Helen Turnbull, 49, managed to get them a small heater - but they have still been cold. They had to use a bowl to catch the water and Dennis had to stay up all night so he could empty it every half an hour.