An elderly man lay dead in his council-run flat for more than a week before being found, it has been revealed.

Relatives are demanding answers after it emerged that the warden who should have been looking after John McCabe was not replaced after going sick five months ago.

It is the second controversy to hit East Ayrshire Council this week.

Two suspended

On Monday, a teacher and a social worker were suspended after a 10-year-old boy with learning difficulties was left in a lay-by as a punishment while being driven home from a trip to a games hall.

Mr McCabe, 67, was found by his sister Mary on the floor of his home at theLongpark Hostel in Kilmarnock a week ago.

A permanent warden should have been looking after the 15 elderly and infirm residents who each live alone in small flats.

Mr McCabe's brother Edward, 59, said: "We thought he was being looked after properly but that obviously was not the case.

"It amazes us that there has been no warden for five months which left John without his safety net.

"Surely they should have had some back-up procedures in place."

'Savage cuts'

Alex Neil, the Scottish National Party MSP for the area, said Mr McCabe's death was the latest disaster to hit a "totally incompetent" council.

"The savage cuts made to the social work service has resulted in this death not being discovered when it could and should have been," he declared.

"It is lunacy for the council to allow a situation where someone goes off sick long term and nobody is there to replace them.

"It is high time East Ayrshire got its act together because there are no excuses for this kind of incompetence.

"While it will be of no benefit to Mr McCabe's family, it is clear the council must provide 24 hour cover, seven days a week in their units for vulnerable people."

Mr McCabe's sister Mary said it was apparent he had been dead for some time when she entered the bedsit.

Recent illness

She had made the visit after attempts to speak to him on his mobile phone failed to get an answer.

Mr McCabe had been unwell recently and was waiting to go into hospital for treatment.

East Ayrshire Council admitted there had been no warden service but said tenants were still connected to the community alarm service.

They also said staff knocked on his door while he was lying dead inside but simply went away without checking when he didn't answer.

A statement said: "A number of visits had been made since the New Year and most recently a visit by social work staff on February 2.

Temporary warden

"There was no reply from this particular tenant although it is not unusual for people not to answer their door.

"Longpark Hostel is not a sheltered housing complex and the level of support is much reduced as tenants are not considered quite as vulnerable."

The council has now put in a temporary warden and said arrangements were being reviewed.