Help has flooded in for old soldier Joseph Taylor after the T&A revealed his fear that he would not be able to have a bath for more than six months.

Just hours after we revealed how the 84-year-old widower faced a half-year wait before Bradford Social Services could even make an assessment of how to adapt his bathroom, people were rallying to his cause. They included:

l The boss of a mobility aids firm in Skipton contacted us, offering to equip Joseph's bathroom.

l The British Legion said the former Royal Artilleryman could stay at one of its convalescent homes.

l And Bradford Health Authority chiefs detailed an occupational therapist to go to Mr Taylor's flat in Undercliffe, Bradford, to finally sort out his problems.

Today, Mr Taylor, who has angina and is partially sighted, said: "I'm really grateful for the help I've had from the T&A."

Philip Greaves, the director of Dalesway Stairlifts and Mobility, said he was shocked when he read of Mr Taylor's plight.

"I can't promise anything until we've had the chance to look at the design of Mr Taylor's bathroom but we'll certainly help if we can," he said.

Lesley Evans, chairman of the Queensbury branch of the Royal British Legion, said: "I'm sure Mr Taylor could spend some time in one of our convalescent homes at Ripon or Southport, while the Council sorts out his bathroom."

A Bradford Social Services spokesman said the Council and the health authority had agreed to help Mr Taylor.

"Mr Taylor was visited by an occupational therapist from the health authority," said the spokesman. "Following this visit, the health authority and the Council have now agreed to provide him with a temporary bath seat in order that he may bathe.

"The Council has also agreed to look at the shower in his bath, which was not working correctly."

Mr Taylor, said: "I really appreciate what they've done for me and I appreciate what you at the paper have done as well.

"I doubt the occupational therapist would have come quite so quickly if the story had not been in the T&A. It just shows that when folk you don't know come forward to help you that there are a lot of kind people out there. They've been brilliant.

"I can't express how grateful I am. The people of Bradford are really good, it's just the administration that's all wrong. It shouldn't have come to this."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.