FRUSTRATED George Maskelyne was left without gas for more than a month when his boiler broke.

The Gorse Hill resident had his supply turned off after a safety check found the boiler was unsafe.

He spent weeks waiting for a replacement to be installed.

But as time ticked by, he became increasingly impatient and upset with the way this was being handled by the council.

He said: “They came over to my place to do a safety check and noticed a gas leak by the boiler.

“They turned it all off to make it safe, said it needed to be replaced, and haven’t come back since.

“I don’t understand why it’s taking so long. They haven’t done anything since early August. I can’t have the heating on and I have to boil the kettle just to get hot water.

“I’ve kept phoning them and nothing’s happened, they’re hopeless.

“They sent me a letter asking me to contact their contractor for help - why don’t they do it if it’s their contractor?

“Luckily I have an electric oven instead of a gas so I can still cook.”

Shortly after Mr Maskelyne contavted the Adver with his complaint, the replacement boiler finally arrived.

Mr Maskelyne was relieved but still annoyed that it had taken so long.

A Swindon Borough Council spokesman said: “There appears to have been some miscommunication between ourselves and our tenant.

“We repaired his boiler this week and will be fitting a new boiler within the next fortnight.”

Mr Maskelyne added: “I’ve also been sent a bill because, even though the gas has been switched off at the boiler, it’s still being recorded on the metre.

“I don’t think I should pay for it when I haven’t used it.”