'It makes me feel filthy and dirty. I don't want to go in there'

A woman has been left feeling 'dirty' and 'filthy' after leaks in her bathroom have forced her to rely on friends for a shower.

Paula Richardson, 59, claims the ongoing issues, which led to 'fungus' growing up the walls of the single-bed flat in Liverpool that she has lived in for four years, have still not been resolved. This includes leaks from a property above cascading down her walls "like rain."

She told the ECHO that housing provider Torus housing offered her an alternative place to live - but this never materialised. The 59-year-old claims the ongoing issues at her home in Larkhill Close, Aigburthhave meant her festive plans have had to be cancelled.

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Paula said: "There has been a leak from the flat above, I've called Torus and it's never been fixed. Over time it's got worse and worse, there's fungus growing and they've never fixed the source of the problem.

"For the last three months, it's been too dangerous for me to use. It's horrendous." Torus accepted its level of service has 'fallen below' its standards in this case but said the leak has now been repaired.

Ms Richardson said she moved in to the property in 2020 and was given the ground floor, one-bedroom flat owing to her mobility issues. She now feels left in limbo.

She added: "It looks like it's not going to be sorted until next year now. When it started it just fell down the walls like rain.

"I was told it was fixed and okay but then fungus started to grow on the walls and black mould. When I had a shower, plaster would fall off the wall onto me, I feel like I've been lied to.

"It makes me feel filthy, dirty and I don't want to go in there.