Pensioners told how their Christmas was cut short when a water pipe burst leaving their sheltered accommodation sodden.

The drama unfolded when Christopher Wilson and partner Wendy Bowden settled down to lunch on a post-Christmas cheeseboard.

Mr Wilson, 72, a retired engineer said Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) and landlord East Kent Housing (EKH) "treated us like lepers" during the aftermath.

“I first noticed the flat was flooded when I sat down for lunch and suddenly my feet were wet.

“I got up to see what was going on and saw water was absolutely gushing out of the cupboard under the sink.

“Water just kept pouring and pouring through our floor, it has ruined everything in its path, including some furniture.

“When we opened the front door, a cleaner in our complex said our house smelled of faeces,” he said.

The flood happened at the grandfather-of-four’s home in Green Court, Green Lane in Folkestone on December 27.

Mr Wilson, who had to shell out for a Homebase Rug Doctor to help mitigate the damage said repairs still haven't been carried out.

He explained: “You just can’t get in touch with anyone, and since the flood we have been living in the damp.

“It’s as if we have been forgotten because we are pensioners – we are the parents of the future generation – we have rights.

“I understand it was the Christmas period so people were busy but we have been treated like lepers.”

Mrs Bowden, 71, added the couple suffered sore throats before the property began to dry and the loud whirring of an industrial dehumidifier makes the living room uninhabitable.

“You have to sit in the bedroom – it’s so loud you can’t hear if anyone comes to the door,” she said.

The couple explained EKH offered temporary accommodation 18-miles away in New Romney.

But the couple refused because it didn’t offer cooking facilities and they wished to spend the remainder of the festive period near friends and family.

An FHDC spokesman said the authority was “sorry to hear” about the situation and the authority will speak ask EKH to ensure tenants don't have to endure such a long wait.

“We’re sorry to hear of the problems Mr Wilson experienced over Christmas.

“We’ve spoken to our partners at East Kent Housing and understand the situation is now being sorted,” they said.

“Christmas is a difficult time to get hold of tradesmen, wherever you live, but we will ask East Kent Housing to ensure that people do not have such a long wait in future.”

It comes after KentOnline revealed EKH tenant 73-year-old Theresa Tait was left living in squalid conditions following a year-long leak in her home.

Speaking about the most recent incident an EKH spokesman pointed the finger at subcontractors and apologised.

“Our emergency contractors Mears should have been there within two hours of the flood.

“They didn’t get there until 8pm (that day), which means the house suffered more water damage than what was necessary.”

He added the subcontractors were supposed to have swiftly carried out repairs but “it wasn’t done for an unknown reason.”

The spokesman apologised to the couple and said all expenses will be re-compensated.

EKH provides social housing for thousands of people in Kent.

Mears has been contacted for comment.