An elderly couple say they had to spend Christmas sleeping on the floor after a failed bed delivery caused damage to their home.

Beryl and Malcolm Deacon bought two single beds for £1,000 at Bensons for Beds on the Gallagher Retail Park in Ashford, before scheduling their delivery for December 23.

They had recently moved into a new house in Gravelly Field in Singleton, and their son had lent them an army issue iron bed until the plush products arrived - however he reclaimed it while friends stayed over for the festive period.

But when deliverymen attempted to take the beds’ bases upstairs, they allegedly caused damage to the wall plastering, before giving up and putting the beds back into the truck.

Mr Deacon, 85, said: “They took out part of the wall going up the stairs.

“They said they couldn’t get a single, three-foot-wide bed up them, and came back down after about six steps.

“After that they left, taking the beds with them.

“We then had to sleep on a duvets on the floor from December 24 to December 27.

“I’m 85 and my wife’s 76 - I don’t think pensioners should be treated like this especially not at Christmas.

“We aren’t as able to get up off the floor as we used to be.

“They broke the house up, smashed the plaster, and yet no one’s phoned us to explain who’s going to pay for this or where our beds are.”

The Deacons’ son has now returned the lent bedstead to the couple, who have three grandsons.

A Bensons for Beds spokeswoman said the company offered the pair a “free product reselection” after the Deacons had “refused the beds”.

However Malcolm and Beryl - who have just celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary - rebuked the response.

Beryl said: “They’ve not spoken to us at all, we don’t know what they’re talking about.

“We didn’t refuse the beds and they never gave us a choice.”

A Bensons for Beds spokeswoman said the company is "sorry for the inconvenience caused".

She said: "As standard practice, at the point of sale, all customers are asked about any space restrictions that may affect the successful delivery of their product and to confirm whether beds will fit in their property before signing the terms and conditions.

"We attempted to deliver Mr and Mrs Deacon’s beds, however due to space restrictions, our deliverymen were unable to lift the beds up the stairs without causing damage to the property.

"Mr and Mrs Deacon refused the beds as a result and they were therefore taken back to our distribution centre.

"We have shared photos with our transport office which show some damage caused to Mr and Mrs Deacon’s home and they are investigating this as a matter of priority.

"In the meantime, as a gesture of goodwill, we have offered Mr and Mrs Deacon a free product reselection and are awaiting a response from them on this."

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