March 1, 2001 9:51: MULTIPLE sclerosis sufferer Trevor Hadlow, who is waiting to have his flat decorated, claims several painters have turned up but failed to do the job.

The 51-year-old council tenant, of Green Street, High Wycombe, has paid Wycombe District Council £70 to have two rooms decorated but is disappointed the job has not been done yet.

He says three different decorators turned up at separate times but failed to wallpaper the bedroom or living room.

Meanwhile Trevor, who uses a wheelchair, has had his movement around the flat restricted after moving ornaments and two big fish tanks so the work could be done.

He said: "They've come in and then they've walked out and never come back.

"I can't get round my flat. It's looking like World War Two."

Trevor's carer Bernie Devereux said some men came last Monday and more were due on Friday.

Bernie said that a spokesman for the decorators, Ecovert, had told her that they were worried about the fumes from the paint because Trevor was in the building.

But she pointed out that the work was mainly wallpaper stripping and some door painting.

She said the situation was "ridiculous".

A district council spokesman said visits by Ecovert had established that Trevor had special needs.

She added: "This is a special case and we are treating it as such by fully investigating the best way forward."

She said the work was due to be completed by March 6.

Joe Slade