A YORK pensioner who was left to crawl up the stairs of his York home for a fortnight after his stairlift broke down was today celebrating the installation of a new machine.

Council chiefs have launched an investigation into why John Garner had to wait so long for a replacement stairlift at his home in Spalding Avenue, Clifton.

Mr Garner, who is 81 and suffers from heart, kidney and circulation disorders, was released from York Hospital yesterday after being rushed there last week when he developed breathing problems.

His daughter, Sally, who said her father's health had worsened since he started hauling himself up and down the stairs, said it was the "end of a nightmare".

She said: "It's a new stairlift and slightly different to work, but we have had a go and it seems fine.

"We are just relieved that it is all over."

Jim Crook, City of York Council's director of community services, said: "The service to Mr Garner was clearly not good enough and we are reviewing our procedures.

"The council sets itself high standards which it usually achieves, but part of that approach is holding our hands up when we get it wrong, as we have done in this case. We have let the Garners down and we apologise."

Coun Viv Kind, the council's executive member for social services, said there was "no excuse" for the length of the delay.

Mr Garner, a retired nurse, was told by contractors last month that he may have to wait up to four weeks for a replacement lift when they could not repair a recurring fault.

Updated: 10:14 Saturday, March 08, 2003