A FAMILY fear they might never be able to safely open their windows or doors after the York company which fitted them called in the liquidators.

Well-known Osbaldwick-based firm, Noel Clarke Windows, which is thought to have been running for more than 20 years, has been listed as insolvent.

The decision has been made by order of the board of the company, and Leeds-based corporate recovery firm KPMG has called a meeting of the company's creditors at the Hilton Hotel, in Leeds, on August 9.

But now a pair of disgruntled customers are asking what will happen to them.

Mick and Julie Ellerby spent £2,600 on double-glazed windows and doors which were fitted by the firm in June last year, but immediately, there were problems with the windows.

They claim some were permanently jammed open while others fell off their hinges when opened.

In May this year, they reported their troubles to the Evening Press, and a spokeswoman for the firm admitted that the pair had been given windows with faulty hinges, which they said they would change. The firm also said it would send an independent expert to check up on it.

But the couple say that despite a total of nine visits from engineers since the windows were fitted, they have still not been repaired satisfactorily.

The hinges were changed, but Mr Ellerby said the problems continued, and the company agreed to replace all the windows.

The couple say they had not heard anything from the firm for several weeks.

"What is going to happen to us now?" asked Mr Ellerby.

"We have been trying to get this sorted out since the Press got us that promise back in May, but we are still no better off.

"They said eventually we would need the windows changing, and said they would let us know when they could send a surveyor round.

"But now we have been phoning them and phoning them, and no one has answered.

"We don't know if they will get fixed, or if we will get any money back."

The Evening Press contacted the firm by phone and spoke to a temp, who said she was not allowed to say anything, and there was no one else there.

No one from the liquidator was available as the paper went to press.

Updated: 09:16 Saturday, July 31, 2004