A WIDOW has pleaded with housing chiefs to fix her leaking roof – more than two years after she first reported it.

Great grandmother Barbara Coombes, who suffers from breathing problems, said the ongoing saga has caused her stress and fears it could have a further impact on her health.

“I dread it whenever it starts raining,” she said. “I lay in bed at night and I can hear it dripping. I’m frightened it’s going to interfere with my breathing even more.”

A hole in the roof of the terraced house in Millbrook, Southampton, has caused damp and black mould in the corner of her bedroom, with paper now hanging off the walls.

She first reported the problem to Southampton City Council in the summer of 2009 but says it failed to meet three completion dates to fix the problem.

A former cleaner at Redbridge School, Barbara, has lived alone since her son, Michael, died in April.

Her husband of 60 years, William, died in December 2007.

Southampton City Council leader Cllr Royston Smith said: “One of my senior officers is contacting Mrs Coombes to apologise and to reassure her that that the work will be completed shortly.

“Officers have visited Mrs Coombes’ home and are arranging a specialised scaffolding rig, which needs to be set up before the repair to the chimney can be completed.

“I am very sorry for any inconvenience to Mrs Coombes.”