A YOUNG mother was left shivering over winter after the council took more than four months to repair her faulty boiler and gas fire.

Melanie Small, 24, of Fifth Avenue, York, moved into her council house about six months ago, with her eight-month-old daughter, Chantelle.

About four months ago, Helplink - a gas boiler servicing company working on behalf of City of York Council - came out to assess the boiler and gas fire and condemned them.

But it was only this week that the council finally replaced the faulty boiler and fire, which had left Melanie and her little tot without heating or hot water.

"When Helplink came out, they put a big warning sticker on the fire and told me not to use it because of dust coming out of the fire," Miss Small said. "They told me they found five or six faults."

A couple of weeks later, council workmen came out to make repairs to the boiler.

Miss Small started using her heating again, but then two weeks ago, Helplink made a further assessment of the heating system and once again condemned it after finding more faults.

She said: "I was absolutely fed up with it and I was frightened for my baby because of the cold.

"My money situation was terrible because until the council came and replaced it this week, I'd been spending all my money on electric heaters - even money for food. I couldn't wash my baby, I couldn't wash up."

A City of York Council spokeswoman said: "When Helplink first condemned the boiler, the council carried out extensive repairs before advising the tenant to start using it again.

"However, when Helplink returned, further faults were found and a decision was taken to replace the boiler rather than face escalating repair costs.

"There has been a delay with the fitting of a replacement boiler because, for health and safety reasons, we have to call in a specialist contractor is there is a chance that asbestos may be present. We apologise for this delay and can confirm that the work is now being carried out."

A spokesman for HelpLink declined to comment.