A pensioner from Bristol was left angry and frustrated after builders laying new gas pipes created a trail of destruction in her home.

Shirley Tooze, 74, who lives in Victoria Road, Hanham, says she has suffered several asthma attacks due to the stress of the work, which has seen her slate driveway cracked and left her kitchen cupboard with a faulty door.

The problems started on September 11, when engineers from Wales and West Utilities starting laying new pipework in the area.

They also had to connect new piping to the meter in Mrs Tooze's kitchen but a kitchen cupboard was left hanging open following the work.

Mrs Tooze said: "I don't understand why they just didn't make sure that the cupboard would shut before they did it, surely that's common sense but they said that was the only way to do it.

"The work they have been doing has also left inches of mud in the road which has been trailed through the house and all over the pavements. I complained and was told someone would be out to look at the problem the next day."

Mrs Tooze then cancelled appointments and meetings with friends as she waited in her house for the next three days until finally, on September 18, workmen arrived to review the problem.

"A health and safety man told me it would have to be redone and they would access the pipes externally by digging up the outside path," said Mrs Tooze.

"I was worried about them doing it because the path is slate and I thought it would shatter if they started digging but they said it would be alright.

"I stood outside watching them and sure enough it started to crack, so I stopped them from continuing. They then said it could be another month before they could put everything right.

"I'm 74, on my own, and I have no one to fight my corner. I've been calling all the different contractors and subcontractors and no one gets back to me. I am asthmatic and I keep having attacks because of the stress and it just makes me so upset."

Rachael Mullins, spokeswoman from Wales and West Utilities, said: "We have met with Mrs Tooze this morning to apologise for the inconvenience caused and have assured her that we plan to rectify the situation as soon as possible.

"We have agreed that the cupboard door will be altered and the tiles replaced next week. To further apologise for the disruption we are arranging for Mrs Tooze's carpets to be cleaned and a road sweeper will clean the street outside.

"The work in Victoria Road forms part of our multi-million-pound, 30-year replacement programme across Wales and the South West, where old metal pipes within 30 metres of buildings are being replaced with highly durable, non-corroding plastic pipes with a life-span of more than 80 years."