A HOUSING group has apologised after its workmen downed tools and walked out after discovering a dead rat during a kitchen refurbishment at a Bradford house.

Disabled tenant Wendy Lee, 55, said she was shocked when they cited health and safety grounds for leaving her with a 24-hour wait for the decomposing remains to be removed.

The six-inch long brown and white rat was discovered under the fridge freezer at her home in Walden Drive, Heaton.

Mrs Lee said the smell from the carcass was "disgusting" and the dead rodent had attracted flies to her kitchen.

It is not known how long it had been there but she said Incommunities staff should have been able to remove it sooner than the following day.

"It was absolutely horrendous," said Mrs Lee.

"I think they should have done it sooner.

"I was quite shocked to find out that a rat had been found. It was not very pleasant at all.

"We've not been able to go in the kitchen.

"It has caused me untold stress. They have not said how long the rat had been there.

""I have not had any support and I've had to chase after Incommunities to get things done.

"The smell from the rat was disgusting.

"Incommunities said they had reported it but I had to live with it for a day. I had to live off takeaways and there were flies in the kitchen."

The rat was removed yesterday morning.

Mrs Lee, who has lived in the property for the last eight years, suffers from a range of conditions, including heart problems and rheumatoid arthritis.

She also suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a collection of lung diseases including chronic bronchitis, emphysema and chronic obstructive airways disease.

Incommunities staff went to her home yesterday and apologised to her for the delay.

An Incommunities spokesman said last night: "We apologise for the delay in removing the dead rodent which was found during the refurbishment work.

"We attended the property this morning to ensure there was no access points for any pests to gain entry. "The construction manager also visited the customer to pass on our apologises and agree arrangements for refurbishment work to proceed as planned."