PENSIONERS whose flats have rotten window and door frames claim Bradford Council is allowing their homes to fall into disrepair.

People living on Dean Street, Ilkley, have joined forces and signed a petition urging the council to replace the frames and install double glazing, to alleviate noise from traffic at night.

But Bradford Council has said the request won't be considered until next year and that there are many properties throughout the Wharfe Valley with a much greater requirement for new windows.

Eighty-year-old William Redman, who organised the petition, said tenants were fed up with the dampness and condensation caused by the rotten frames.

"At my age this sort of thing gets on top of you after a while," he said.

"The door frames and window frames are both rotten and in winter we have to put towels on the window sill and then wring them out.

"We have lived here for 18 years and in that time the building has only ever had two coats of paint - the council just doesn't seem to care about the place.

"God help the people who deserve help more than us - they must be in a really bad way. We are all sick of waiting for help."

Neighbour Kathleen Douthwaite, 85, said she was told by the council six years ago that the flats would be given double glazing.

"That promise has never materialised," she said.

"Dean Street is really busy because of lorries going to the abattoir and we are often woken at night - it's terrible."

Tenants claim that other problems in the flats have also been ignored by the council.

"There are problems with the overflows, which have been reported," said 69-year-old Margaret Price.

"Someone was meant to be coming to have a look on July 11 but they never showed up."

Ilkley Parish Council Chairman Councillor Lexa Robinson is backing the residents' claims and says Bradford Council has ignored tenants in Ilkley for too long.

"Ilkley has a very small percentage of council flats and houses but those tenants' have the same needs as others in the area," she said.

"As far as I am aware the windows have been in since the flats were built and have never been dealt with. The residents have been trying to get something done for years and I think they are having a really bad deal."

Ilkley district councillor Martin Smith, said the windows would not be replaced this year or next. "We understand the residents' concerns but there are council properties in Ilkley with windows in a far worse state," he said.

A Bradford Council housing spokeswoman said: "We are considering repairs and improvements to a number of flats at Dean Street. The local housing manager is also arranging to meet all of the tenants."