ANGRY residents on a Westbury estate fear they will be left to pay the bill for replacing gas heaters removed by a housing association.

People living on the Phoenix Rise estate have been told by Bristol-based housing association, Orbit, that faulty flues mean the heaters must be removed.

A residents' petition has attracted 64 signatures against the gas heaters being taken away.

They have been offered £100 to pay for replacement electric heaters.

Resident Paulette Plant said: "This amount will not cover the cost of new fires.

"We are being asked to pay for an electrician to come and install them properly and the maintenance of them is to be at our expense."

They say free-standing heaters will be too dangerous with young children in the house.

Mother-of-three Sharon Burbidge, of Great Roc Road, said: "I'm not happy about having a free-standing electrical heater because it's not safe for children and they're expensive to run."

Alan Cummins, maintenance manager with Orbit, said: "There is background heating and the gas fires are not really needed.

"You can buy a new heater which complies with all regulations and is perfectly safe for under £80."

Mrs Burbidge's heater has already been removed and there is just a gap where it used to be.

She said: "They did write and say they would repair the damage to the wall and repaint, but they haven't done that or given us the money to pay for it.

"I've only just decorated my front room and now it looks horrible.

"I wouldn't have let them in if I knew it was going to be left like that."

Other residents are refusing to let contractors in to do any work until an agreement has been reached on payment for new fires and redecoration, including what is to be done with the fires' base slabs.