A TEENAGE student has begged to be re-housed after the kitchen ceiling of her former council house caved in.

Katy Pickles, 18, of Rothwell Avenue, Accrington, was watching television in her living room last Monday night when she was startled by a “huge crash”.

She found the kitchen ceiling had collapsed – with water from a burst pipe leaking through from the bathroom directly above.

Hyndburn Homes attended immediately and made the ceiling safe, but Katy’s hot water was only restored this Tuesday after repairs to the pipe – leaving her unable to have a bath at home for over a week.

She has now arranged for her ceiling to be re-plastered but claims her radiators are still not working properly.

Katy, who is studying with the North Lancs Training Group and lives alone, said: “I couldn’t have a bath because as soon as I put the heating on the water poured through the roof.

“The first night I didn’t even want to be in the house.  It was freezing and I think it’s disgraceful – no-one would want to live in that state for a week.”

Katy now says she just wants to move out.

She added: “I have had damp problems in the kitchen and the whole house is just wet. I keep redecorating but there’s no point.”#

David Cross, from Hyndburn Homes Repairs, said: “We are disappointed to learn that this resident has not been satisfied with the service received from Hyndburn Homes.

“The kitchen ceiling collapse was responded to as an emergency and was made safe in order to remove any risk to health and safety.

“The ceiling then needed to be re-plastered and we have liaised with the tenant to arrange a mutually convenient appointment in order to do this.

“With regard to the property being without heating or hot water, no referral for this had actually been received.

“However, this was subsequently attended to on the day we were made aware of the problem.”