IF, as their circumspect explanation suggests, Lancashire Social Services found wheelchair-bound Neil Dunne difficult to deal with, it in no way excuses what befell him as one of their cases - having to spend the Christmas period without gas and electricity and entirely dependent on neighbours for food.

That should happen to no-one, least of all a disabled person living alone.

Evidently, Burnley magistrates agree, as is shown by their understanding for the action that angry and frustrated Mr Dunne took to draw attention to his plight - remonstrating at the Social Services offices and sitting in the road outside and twice getting himself arrested.

When he admitted causing obstruction and giving abuse, the bench gave him an absolute discharge and made no order for costs.

That, surely, passes a sentence on the social workers involved - for gross failure of duty and, worse, for an apparent failure to care.

For the court heard that, after making arrangements numerous times for work to begin on adapting his home for his needs, moving into temporary accommodation five times while it was supposed to take place and returning each time to find it had not, on the last occasion Mr Neil moved into a nursing home for two weeks - and came home two days before Christmas to find that, yet again, nothing had been done, apart from the disconnection of his power and gas. He got no help from the authorities and when he went to the Social Services offices it seemed that staff were more bothered about getting off to their Christmas Party than they were about him.

So began his sit-down protest.

But that did not prevent him spending that awful Christmas without these vital services.

Even then, when the Social Services offices re-opened after the break and staff told him arrangements would be made for the supplies to be reconnected - a whole week after he found them cut off - nothing happened.

And his second forceful protest led to a second arrest.

Eventually, the police had to get the power and gas put back on - at Mr Dunne's expense.

Yet, whatever the reasons for this foul-up, its length and extent and the hardship caused should in no way emanate from a local government department whose remit is to provide vital care and help every day, 24 hours a day.

Moreover, the social services department of Lancashire County Council is one which was joining with other public services to proclaim, in a special publication for the Christmas and New Year, just how prepared it was!

In the case of Mr Dunne, it seems its staff was more prepared to party.

They should be ready now to apologise profusely.

And their bosses should take the fullest disciplinary action against those to blame.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.