A family is facing a freezing Christmas after a year-long wait for new windows.

Sarah Addison and Eamon Roach live in a council house in Caithness Road with Mr Roach’s mother and their baby John.

Miss Addison said last July the couple realised ill-fitting windows in their bedroom were letting draughts into the house - and, with their first child on the way, the family asked for new windows to be put in.

But more than a year later they are still waiting.

Their diary of visits by more than a dozen council surveyors over the period claim most agreed new windows were necessary - although the council claim the need for a new window was only identified three months ago.

Miss Addison said: “It’s freezing - it’s ridiculous how much we have spent on gas and electricity.”

The current windows were installed 10 years ago, but mistakes by the contractors meant the frames did not sit in the wall properly.

Councillor Linda Scott, the council’s cabinet member for housing and community services, said the contractors had identified a new window was needed in September this year - but the work had been delayed once to solve structural problem’s with the house's roof, and again when it was realised the new window had been “incorrectly manufactured”.

She said: “As a result, we were required to delay the replacement of the window while contractors made it a priority to investigate and repair the roof of the property for health and safety concerns. Unfortunately this meant that the tenant did have to endure visits from a number of contractors for surveying and repairs.”

She added: “We understand that it can be frustrating having building works take place in the home and we thank the family for their patience while our contractors work to complete these repairs."

• What do you think? Let us know by email here, phone the newsdesk on 020 8330 9555 or leave a comment below.