A STROKE victim who has been struggling to walk says she has been left 'freezing cold' in her home after being discharged from hospital.

Christine Hart has not been able to get the central heating or hot water working at home in Stone Drive, Colwall, since she was discharged from hospital.

The 68-year-old grandmother and former Crufts judge suffered a stroke on February 8 which has caused difficulties with her speech and mobility.

She only left the acute stroke ward at Worcestershire Royal Hospital on February 13 and the family say the central heating has been playing up since at least February 17.

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"I think it's disgusting how they can just leave someone who had a stroke and a really long cardiac history. I'm sat here in the freezing cold. I'm not feeling very good."

She also said she is worried for the welfare of her dog - her Schipperke called Tally Ho.

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However, she praised her 'amazing neighbours' for lending her an electric heater and her brother, Dennis Hart, for calling her landlord Bromford on a regular basis.

She said a smart meter was installed on Thursday and, when British Gas left, the heating was on but it is now no longer working.

Mrs Hart is glad of the electric heater but said she was worried 'it's gobbling my electricity'. She says she has been told she is 'top of the priority list'.

When her daughter visited, Mrs Hart said she told her the house was so cold she felt like she had 'rigor mortis'.

Her 69-year-old brother said he arrived to find her and her daughter 'in a blanket with the dog in the middle'.

"It's pretty disgusting, the way she has been treated."

The family said they were grateful to British Gas and National Grid for the help they tried to provide but have been told the issue is one for Bromford to resolve.

Bromford’s director of localities and customer contact Kevin Bennett apologised and said they have visited the home several times.

“We’ll be visiting her again on Friday afternoon to resolve the issue with her heating system and check everything is working properly and will stay in touch with her to make sure there are no further problems with her heating.”

After Worcester News contacted Bromford, a subcontractor visited the site to fix the issue.

Mrs Hart said: “ A subcontractor was sent out today and was able to fix the issue. I am so relieved to have the heating back going into the weekend."