A PENSIONER who suffers from a heart condition has been left without heating or hot water for over a week after a gas leak in his street. Ronald Warnan, 83, has been huddled around a tiny electric heater ever since the potentially deadly leak. Engineers f

A PENSIONER who suffers from a heart condition has been left without heating or hot water for over a week after a gas leak in his street.

Ronald Warnan, 83, has been huddled around a tiny electric heater ever since the potentially deadly leak.

Engineers from the National Grid had to shut off the gas to six homes on Thursday, February 12.

They then started digging up the road to lay pipes reconnecting the gas supply.

But Mr Warnan says the engineers only laid the pipes underground in the street and wanted to connect them to his house overground.

Mr Warnan, from Dagenham, said: "They told me it was their policy and they had to connect the gas pipes to my house overground.

"Apparently they don't lay pipes underground right up to your house anymore.

"I think it will look awful and be dangerous if they connect the pipes outside.

"But I was told it would cost �900 if I wanted the pipes laid underground so now I have been without heating or hot water."

This winter was one of the coldest in recent memory with record snow fall and snap frosts freezing lakes solid.

And Mr Warnan has endured the frosty weather without any gas, he said: "It really worries me because I have a heart condition and I need to keep warm.

"I have to use an electric heater which uses up so much electricity and provides very little warmth.

"I've put a fortune into the meter to keep it running - about �9 a day I'd say."

Following the dispute Mr Warnan says that he was visited by gas engineers on Tuesday, February 17 but the problems have still not been sorted out.

A National Grid spokesman said: "Our engineers attended the road affected in Dagenham after a gas leak was discovered.

"Six properties were affected and we were able to install new supply pipes at all but one of the properties.

"The resident of this property objected to the route of the new pipe, which must be laid outside for safety reasons.

"We will continue to work with the resident to resolve the matter.