A pensioner says his lack of heating is starting to make him ill, a month after it was supposed to be fixed.

Reginald Moorby, 85, first contacted KentOnline to complain about his broken system at his home on Romney Marsh at the beginning of September.

He said it stopped working in October 2018 and he spent last winter feeling cold and frustrated in his sheltered accommodation flat at Mittell Court, Lydd.

And with this year's cold months fast approaching, the former engineer, who started his career as a radio mechanic in the Royal Signals, wanted to make sure the system was fixed in good time.

He says he reported the problem to housing provider East Kent Housing (EKH) numerous times, along with Folkestone and Hythe District Council and his warden.

But after getting nowhere he stopped paying his rent, in the hope it would prompt them to sort the issue out.

When first approached for a comment on September 2, EKH said work would start in two weeks to fix the heating system.

And contractors have visited the flats several times, with some work being carried out.

But now a month later, Mr Moorby says he is still living in a cold flat.

This week, EKH said his radiators would be replaced on Thursday.

But a day later and Mr Moorby says that work has not been carried out and the heating is still not working.

Speaking today, Mr Moorby said: "I'm not feeling very well. It's very cold here.

"I'm sitting here dressed with a dressing gown over the top.

"This is getting ridiculous now. It's getting me down. It's no change.

"The heating is still not fixed. I've spent hours and hours on the phone. They come and measure and then go away again.

"They came yesterday and fitted new valves. But I'm not sure when they're coming back.

"Some mornings I have to get out of bed and put more clothes on and then get back into bed.

"The days are okay but it's only going to get worse.

"I'm not paying rent and I have no intention of paying until it's working."

A spokeswoman for EKH says: “Work on the heating system at Mittell Court is in the final stages of completion.

"The new boiler system has been installed, the heating is working, and we are filtering the system.

"Unfortunately we were unable to complete the work to fit the radiators yesterday, as work to drain the heating system took all day.

"We will go back on Monday to fit the radiators."

East Kent Housing announced it had appointed a new chairman today - Jamie Weir will replace James Queay who announced he was stepping down.

Read more: All the latest news from Romney Marsh