A disabled graduate who has been fighting for the right to have a bath for the last five years has thanked the Telegraph & Argus for helping her to win her battle.

Sociology graduate Yvonne Leach had been trying since 2001 to persuade her landlord, now Shipley Community Housing Trust (CHT), to fit a bath at her ground-floor flat in Tennis Way, Baildon.

The 52-year-old, plagued by congenital health problems which make showering impos-sible, said housing chiefs ignored her pleas for help and letters of support from her own doctors and a report from Bradford Council's Occupat-ional Therapy Service until she finally contacted the T&A for help.

"Not having a bath in the flat has made my life a misery," said Miss Leach, who is waiting for bowel surgery and for more hospital tests for osteoporosis.

"I can't shower because I've hardly got any feeling in my hands so I need to see what I'm doing. I can't get water in my ears either because I'm so prone to infections.

"I've been struggling to cope. A bath would make my life much easier."

For the past five years Miss Leach said she has had no other option than to bathe using a cramped sink for a stand-up wash.

She said: "I've rung the hous-ing office up in tears before because I'm so desperate but they wouldn't help me.

"I'm so grateful to the T&A for putting pressure on and asking questions which obviously sprung them into action after five years."

Miss Leach also got support from Shipley MP Philip Davies who got in touch with both Shipley CHT and Social Services but earlier this week before the CHT's U-turn admitted to "coming up against a brick wall."

He said the CHT had told him they would only fit a bath for Miss Leach if Bradford Social Services recommended it.

Peter Kay, Head of Service (Adults and Health) for Brad-ford Council, said: "Our occupational therapist visited Ms Leach recently and recommended options to Shipley CHT to make it easier for her to bathe.

"It is understood that as a result of this and in the light of BCHT also receiving a supportive letter from her GP a satisfactory solution has been accepted."

Shipley CHT head of operations James Healy said: "We accepted the recommendation in the assessment by the Council's Occupational Therapy Service that the shower be adapted.

"However, after visiting Miss Leach on Thursday, assessing her current needs and taking into consideration the GP's recommendations, we have decided to fit a bath.

"The work will be carried out shortly."