Residents say they have been without heating at their retirement complex in the Towns for the past two weeks.

People living in Prospect Place say there has been no heating at the site, in Blake Avenue, Gillingham, since Monday, November 13.

The complex comprises of 60 flats for older and retired people, who say they have been given electric fans since the heating went off, but say the whole building is freezing and they claim they are being fobbed-off about how long the repairs will take.

One pensioner said he was told a major part needed to be ordered in, but it was ‘stuck in France’ and promises to get the heating back on, have not happened.

The complex at Victory Pier was built about five years ago and is managed by Housing & Care 21, a national housing provider which also offers care services for older people.

Quite a few pensioners who live at the complex are also disabled and the site has a communal lounge, restaurant, a communal laundry and a hair salon.

However, one elderly man says the residents are just being fobbed-off about when the repairs will actually be done.

The man, who didn’t want to be named, said: “You would think for a relatively new build, we wouldn’t be facing these problems already.

“The whole building is freezing and the part has apparently got stuck in France.

“We keep being told it will be fixed one day then that date moves and the last I heard it was going to be fixed last Friday, November 24, but here we are on Monday and it is still not fixed.

"This is now running into the third week.

“Last night was quite mild, but we have had a few freezing nights recently and apparently we are just going into a cold spell. We just want to be warm and have heating again.”

A spokesperson for Housing & Care 21 said: "The health and wellbeing of residents is our priority.

“We are aware of an issue with the heating system at Prospect Place.

"All residents have been offered portable heating provision and have had access to hot water while we worked with engineers to resolve this issue.

“Engineers are currently on site and the heating will be fully operational by the end of today.

“We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused our residents and their friends and family.”