WHAT an appalling state of affairs when a 78-year-old woman who has had respiratory problems has to live in a mushroom-infested flat and wear a mask for fear of falling seriously ill.

Norma Lapsley has had to sit and watch large fungal growths emerge and grow ever larger through the kitchen walls of her Regent Court flat.

Seven months have elapsed since she first reported an issue to River Clyde and still Inverclyde's largest housing provider has failed to find a fix.

Bosses have come under increasing fire from councillors in recent weeks and have been accused of presiding over 'slum' conditions in some instances.

They've promised to clear a backlog of around 1,500 repairs before the summer is out.

If the length of time RCH has taken to not find a solution for Mrs Lapsley's awful predicament is anything to go by, then their goal would appear to be a rather ambitious one.

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There can be no more excuses from this housing provider, it must find a solution for ALL the problems its tenants have had to endure — some for up to 11 YEARS.

RCH has admitted today that its work to repair issues at Regent Court has been ineffective.

In Mrs Lapsley's case it could be argued that it has been non-existent.

The time is fast approaching when the anger of local councillors regarding RCH may have to come to official enforcement action.