A DISABLED council tenant will finally get much needed work done on her kitchen after waiting four years for assistance.

Widow Kathleen Seear, 58, of St.Columba Court, Leytonstone, applied for help in 2001 under a scheme designed for vulnerable council tenants who are unable to decorate their homes themselves.

She says she was not contacted about the problems in her kitchen and no assessment was done even though the deteriorating state of the ceiling represented a safety risk.

Mrs Seear contacted the council last month to find out what was happening and she was told that she might have to wait until next year before anything could be done.

After the Guardian made inquiries about Mrs Seear's problem, Ascham Homes, the company that manages properties on behalf of the council, sent an officer to assess the kitchen on Friday and agreed to carry out the necessary work.

Mrs Seear said: "I and my late husband filled out a form applying for help four years ago and didn't hear anything back.

"The state of the ceiling in the kitchen is a health hazard. I am afraid to use the cooker in case anything happens.

"There's no way I could do it myself and I think it is disgusting that I have had to wait so long for them to do anything."

Before the officer's visit, a spokesman for Ascham Homes said: "There is limited funding of £30,000 for the scheme and it runs on a first come first served basis.

"While we make every effort to help people as soon as we practically can, the list of people wishing to receive help is extensive.

"Mrs Seear is 11th on the list for Contact Area 6. This means that she could possibly fall into next year's programme.

"However, we are concerned about the problem she is reporting regarding her plastering. We have no record of this previously reported and are concerned.

"We have arranged for an officer to visit Mrs Seear to assess the situation."