A GREENOCK pensioner who has breathing difficulties has been exposed to mould spores and left without washing facilities after her shower room ceiling caved in. 

Jean Lang, 69, has to use an oxygen machine for 15 hours a day and is cared for by her son, Frank, 45.

Jean and Frank were in their flat on Sir Michael Street on Monday when they heard a horrifying crash at around 6.30am. 

The pair rushed to the shower room to find half of the ceiling lying on the shower tray with dirt and debris all over the floor. 

(Image: Duncan Bryceland) Frank says he has been in touch with housing provider River Clyde Homes (RCH) about problems with the ceiling for well over a year, and more regularly since a continuous drip started around a month ago. 

The mother and son have now been left without washing facilities and no one has been able to get hold of the upstairs neighbours and fix the issue properly. 

(Image: Duncan Bryceland) Frank said he has no doubt what would have happened if his mum had taken a shower at 6.30am on Monday. 

He said: "If my mum had been standing in the shower, she would be dead. 

"I'm disgusted. We've spent money getting the house looking nice and it's been destroyed."

Jean added: "It was such a shock. 

"I heard a bang at about half six in the morning and thought one of the windows had been smashed. 

"I went into the shower room and found half of the roof in the shower unit.

"I can't have a shower and we're just left here."

(Image: Duncan Bryceland) Frank says the previous upstairs neighbours flooded the bathroom three times during their tenancy, and says when new tenants moved in around four weeks ago, the leak started again. 

He claims when he phoned RCH to report the leak he was told to 'put a bucket down to collect the water'. 

Frank added: "I think treating a pensioner like that is disgraceful.

"We've been phoning RCH regularly. 

"It was only a matter of time before the ceiling caved in."

When Frank alerted RCH to the issue on Monday morning, a member of the team came out to clean up the mess. 

When the Telegraph visited the flat, a member of the HomeFix team administered a mould spray to kill the spores, and advised someone would come out at cover the ceiling with a board. 

(Image: Duncan Bryceland) Frank fears the issue isn't going to go away until the root of the problem is fixed, and that means getting hold of the neighbours upstairs. 

He said: "The neighbours won't answer the door so we have no way of finding out exactly what's wrong and how we can get it fixed. 

"We can hear them but they don't answer. We're going to have to phone the police.

"We've got a nice wee home but the shower room is ruined."

In response, a spokesperson for River Clyde Homes said: “We understand this is a distressing situation for Mr Lang and his mother, and our housing team are doing everything we can to support them. 

"Unfortunately, the problem lies in an upstairs apartment that is privately owned and therefore outwith our control; we have, however, contacted the letting agent to request repairs are carried out as a matter of urgency, which will allow us to address the damaged area.

"We have also advised that if the leak persists, we will be obliged to raise the matter with the public health and housing department of Inverclyde Council.”