A block of bungalows home to elderly and disabled tenants will be without heating or hot water this Christmas.

The bungalows at Westcroft in Chippenham are owned by GreenSquareAccord and reserved for tenants who are over 50s or disabled.

They have not had heating or hot water for four days after their communal oil tank ran out. While the tank has been refilled, a blockage prevented the oil reaching residents’ boilers.

Clair Barlow, the youngest tenant in the block at 48, suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis. She says the cold and damp has triggered her severe asthma.

She said: “I don’t know how we’re going to cope over Christmas. I’m worried about the elderly people.

“My asthma is giving me grief. It is quite severe, and I am not supposed to be cold or damp because that will set it off again.

“They kept telling us everyday someone was coming round to sort it but we’re on day four now and we’ve got no hot water and no heating.”

This is not the first time boiler issues have left Mrs Barlow without heating during her three years in the property. She claims she was hospitalised with a lung infection last year after her boiler leaked.

She added: “The boilers are ancient and break down on a regular basis. I’ve had it on and off since I’ve lived here, I’ve never had such hassle from a property.

“Last time they left us for three weeks without heating and there’s always an excuse.

“They serviced mine last year, but it ended up leaking and gave me an asthma attack, and lung and chest infections, and I ended up in hospital. It’s just awful, there are no words to describe it.”

A spokesperson for GreenSquareAccord said: “We are very sorry some of our customers are experiencing problems with their boilers.

“We have been in regular contact with the impacted customers this week. Following an inspection, it has become apparent there is a blockage in an oil tank.

“We need the support of specialist contractors to resolve the problem. As it is so close to Christmas, they aren’t available until early January.

“We are in communication with the customers affected, offering temporary heating solutions if required.

“If any of our customers need to reach us on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day they can call us on 0300 111 7000.”

Mrs Barlow received two emergency heaters on Friday, December 23, but fears they are too small to heat her home.