Patricia Jones with a piece of her collapsed ceiling. 14/10/04AN asthma sufferer ended up in hospital after her damp ceiling fell down around her head, following a persistent leak that the council failed to repair.

Patricia Jones was hit by parts of her rotten ceiling on Monday - more than three years after she first reported the plumbing problems to housing officers at Salisbury district council.

Water began pouring from a tank in the loft of the 46-year-old's home in Westwood Road, Bemerton Heath, at the weekend and, before long, the carpets, furniture and walls were sodden.

Pressure began to build up on the lounge ceiling, which finally gave way.

Shortly after the Journal's photographer took the picture on this page, another large chunk of plaster fell down, striking Mrs Jones on the head, and she was taken to Salisbury district hospital suffering from breathing problems.

She said this was the third time parts of her ceiling had fallen through and, despite regular efforts to patch it up, the council had not solved the problem.

"We had to get the fire brigade here to stop the leak but all the water had already poured into the house," said Mrs Jones.

"I'm scared the whole ceiling is going to fall down.

"There are wires exposed and the water is everywhere.

"This is the third time this has happened but they just put a patch on it and don't repair the whole thing. We have had lots of problems with our plumbing and they never seem to do a proper job, which means the house is damp and dangerous."

A council spokeswoman said action would be taken immediately:

"Part of a ceiling has come down at one of our properties in Bemerton Heath," she said. "This had been caused by a water tank overflowing and our repairs inspector has been at the property to assess the damage.

"He has reported back that the ceiling fell in as a direct result of the sudden weight of the water that came out of the water tank.

"It was not connected in any way to any previous repairs that have been carried out at the property.

"Salisbury district council takes its responsibility as landlord very seriously.

"We always undertake any repairs that are needed as soon as we possibly can.

"The council also has a regular maintenance programme of its council homes and we are currently undertaking a programme of modernisation to our older properties. Where serious or emergency repairs are required, the council acts immediately to ensure these are carried out at the earliest opportunity."