A HEREFORD leukaemia sufferer said he is ready to leave his Hereford retirement home after 'months' of ongoing maintenance problems.

Nicholas Swingler, 71, has been living at Drybridge House, on Hereford's Saint Martin's Street, for almost six years.

But in recent months, work to replace windows around the house have been a source of frustration for Mr Swingler who claims that scaffolders arrived on site earlier than expected and caused damage to one tenant's property.

He said: "The scaffolders arrived and started work at around 7.30am even though they were not supposed to be there until 9am. Anything could be going on at that time.

"We don't have a manger at the moment and almost everything they have done in the last few months have been done really badly."

Mr Swingler, who has since said he will refuse any work in his own property, recently underwent an abdominal operation and is currently taking a trial drug.

He fears that work to his own windows will cause disruption and is concerned for other residents who may also be unwell.

He added that Anchor, the organisation which owns Drybridge House, is keen to replace baths with wet rooms.

"There's a very strong feeling here for keeping baths and a very significant number of people that want to keep them," he added.

Frank Bartle, district manager for Drybridge House, said new windows are being fitted at Drybridge House to improve sound and heat insulation for tenants.

"It was agreed with the building contractor that there would be no access to the site until 8.30am, but unfortunately this message was not passed on to their sub-contractor," he said.

"We apologise for any disruption this has caused to tenants, and have now made it clear to all involved that there is no access before 8.30am so this will not be an issue in future. A new location manager will be in place within the next month.

"Wet rooms are being installed at Drybridge House to reduce the risk of falls in bathrooms. I met with tenants on May 1 to explain what is happening and discuss any concerns raised. We are working with those who would prefer to keep their baths to look at all the options available; where it is beneficial to the tenant, the bath will remain. The damage to one property was an unfortunate accident, which we are working quickly to repair."