A RESIDENT whose home is being renovated by a council woke up to find it raining on her after she was left without a roof for three weeks.

Workers left just a tarpaulin sheet where the roof should be at Zoe Riley's home in Higher South Street, Darwen.

Council bosses blamed "unforeseen problems" but pledged to install a new roof within a week as part of the multi-million pound Elevate scheme.

Zoe, 25, a nursery nurse, said she was now sleeping on an inflatable mattress in her living room for fear of being rained on again.

She said: "Throughout last week I was sleeping in the spare room on a blow-up bed.

"Last Wednesday I slept in my bedroom and woke up around 2.30 in the morning soaking wet.

"I couldn't believe it. Even before the rain was coming through, you could hear the plastic rattling during the night. I am really concerned."

Zoe and her partner, Mark Percival, 24, plan to marry next year. The couple own the home but are growing increasingly concerned at the damage being caused throughout the house.

Zoe added: "I have no problems with the plans the council have for the area. I think it is a fantastic idea but the work seems very badly thought out. The scaffolding went up two months ago and the roofs came off three weeks ago."

The work had been delayed because rotted roofing timbers had been found, the council said.

Coun Mohammed Khan, executive member for housing and neighbourhoods, said: "The problem experienced by workmen replacing the roofs could not have been foreseen.

"As soon as we were made aware, that during heavy downpours of rain residents had water seeping into their homes, we did all in our power to stop it and we are confident we have prevented it from happening again.

"We are now looking at a week's timescale for the work on the roofs of these houses to be completed."