Elderly and disabled tenants in a block of GreenSquareAccord bungalows have been without heating or hot water for more than a month.

A problem with the communal oil tank, after the housing association allowed it to empty in December, has left dozens living at Westcroft, Chippenham, facing the winter cold without central heating.

Initially the housing association claimed the issue would be resolved by early January and provided small heaters. But these have not been sufficient to heat homes and are expensive to run.

Jacqueline Ingram, 85,  has confined herself to one room because she can’t heat the whole bungalow.

She said: “It’s not the same without central heating, you can’t live naturally. Everyone is very unhappy. It’s miserable, I haven’t been well and I had to spend Christmas and New Year like this.

“I keep saying to myself that it could be worse, and I’ve tried to get by that way, but it’s really not nice and we’ve had bad weather so it’s a struggle to keep warm.”

“Not one of the senior management has had the courtesy to come and say sorry to us.”

Fellow tenant Terry Hancock added: “We’ve got no heating at all and no hot water. My dog’s water bowl has had ice on it twice in the last week it’s so cold.

“The electric heaters are about as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike… they’re absolutely useless and I don’t think anyone is interested in us. They don’t care.”

The bungalows are for over 50s and those with disabilities. Tenants include Janet Dunkerton, who suffers from fibromyalgia and Clair Barlow who revealed the damage the cold has on her health in December.

Mrs Dunkerton said: “It’s been terrible. The cold makes my muscle pain much worse so I’m in a lot of pain.”

The bungalows have electric showers but tenants say using them without proper heating is causing damp in their homes.

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

“We are selecting an alternative heating system to install. Whilst our customers welfare continues to be our priority, this is an important and expensive decision which has long term consequences if we get it wrong.

“We are seeking expert advice and will update all customers affected by February 3.

“All customers have been provided heaters, have electric showers, have been offered temporary accommodation and been paid compensation. We are completing other repairs at Westcroft, which may impact the ability to keep homes warm.”