A PENSIONER could be left thousands of pounds out of pocket after a bedroom ceiling collapsed in a home she had bought just weeks before.

Carol Uprichard, 68, bought a cottage in Leeds Road, Nelson, on December 5.

But this week, half of the bedroom ceiling fell in after some work was carried out in the room.

Carol said: “After the plast-erer had skimmed the bedroom ceiling, I went back the following day and the ceiling had collapsed.

“There had been some heavy bricks stored above the ceiling as part of the insulation, and these have caused the ceiling to cave in when it has become wet.”

The cottages were refurbished by Pendle Council ar-ound six years ago.

“It has left me out of pocket, but my bigger concern is the dangers,” said Carol.

“If other houses here have the same problem, it could be dangerous. The ceiling could collapse on a child.

“It could just need one damp patch on a ceiling for every-thing to come crashing down.”

Carol has contacted Pendle Council, but it has said it is no longer responsible and that its work had been signed off.

Pendle Council’s home improvement manager Matthew Pearson said: “Our contractor finished work on these houses around six years ago and we have no control over what’s gone on since.

“We had a supervisor on site while the work was being done and the work was signed off as being satisfactory.

“Since then, the previous owner may have carried out work on their home which the new owner was not aware of until problems like this come to light.”