Disabled woman 'trapped' in room

Marion Vidolich and her parents

The parents of a disabled woman who has been virtually confined to her bedroom for nine years are accusing an East London council of ignoring her.

Marion Vidolich, a cerebal palsy sufferer, has been in a wheelchair all her life.

In 1992 her parents applied to Newham Council for money to adapt their house to give their daughter a better quality of life.

They were awarded a disabled facilities grant of £32,000, but the builders they employed left without finishing the work despite being paid £20,000.

We use next door's garden toilet and have had no central heating for two years

Edith Vidolich

Marion's mother, Edith, said: "The council make my blood boil.

"They have a statutory duty to my daughter, they should have gone after the builder to obtain the £20,000 from him or they should have provided another grant for my daughter."

The family took the council to the Local Government Ombudsman.

'No fresh air'

Chris Wood, Newham Council director of housing, said the subsequent investigation "exonerates the council".

Mrs Vidolich said: "Since the sixth of September 1992, Marion has been confined to her bedroom without fresh air, cut off from family activities."

The family had wanted to adapt the upstairs bathroom for Marion, who is now 26, and install a stair lift at their home in East Ham.

Edith Vidolich: "Stressful situation"

The builders left without widening the stairs or putting in a stair lift, the toilet does not work and a special shower has not been finished.

Mrs Vidolich said: "We use next door's garden toilet and have had no central heating for two years.

"You can imagine how stressful the situation is."

Mr Wood, from Newham Council, said: "Our primary concern is the welfare of the family and the disabled daughter.

"There are many services available to Mrs Vidolich, which we're ready to offer, including independent advice."

The Federation of Master Builders said that when a builder went bankrupt all people could do was to make a claim on any of the builders' belongings left on their property.