Bristol family face Christmas with firework-damaged home

Ricky Potter said they have the heating and lights on 'constantly'

A family face living in a boarded-up house until after Christmas following a Bonfire Night fire.

Ricky Potter from Withywood said a stray firework ignited a fire which destroyed windows, water pipes and gutters at the back of their home.

Council house tenant Mr Potter accused Bristol City Council of "failing him and his family" after not responding for weeks.

The BBC approached the council for comment.

The extent of the damage caused by the firework set off on Bonfire Night

Mr Potter claimed the authority said they would send someone out within two hours to assess the damage, but no one came.

He claimed two surveyors came "a few days later" and said they would deal with it - but after three weeks he had heard nothing.

Instead, he claimed, they boarded all the windows and he has made several attempts to find a solution without much response.

He said his wife, who is disabled, has had to move to a bed downstairs.

He added that the house is cold and they have to keep the lights and heating constantly.

"All you could smell for two weeks was melting plastic," he said.

Their windows have been boarded up after the windows shattered

On Friday Mr Potter had a private contractor tell him the latest estimate for a repair is due sometime in January.

He told the BBC: "It's a depressing sign to come home from work and all you can see is bordered up windows and broken glass,

"It's quite soul-destroying to be fair. The sooner they can get it sorted would be the better for all of our mental health and everything in this family."

"I would like the windows to be fixed and for them to admit they're in the wrong."

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