AN elderly disabled couple who had gone away for respite care returned home to find their home had been flooded.

Ellen Mullin, 76, who is a severe diabetic had taken her sick and disabled husband, Frank, 78, to a home in Blackpool for two weeks.

But when she arrived back at their home in Green Street, Great Harwood, she found her living room was full of industrial dehumidifiers and fans and all the wallpaper from one of their walls had peeled off.

It is believed water had been pouring into their home from the empty house next door from a cracked toilet cistern.

But because the neighbouring house is empty and the the Mullins had been away it was days before the problem was spotted.

The fans were later installed by Homewise - who had been alerted to the problem when they entered the property to install a shower for Mr Mullin.

Mrs Mullin said: "I just couldn't believe the mess and the smell from the rotten wallpaper paste is terrible.

"Frank needs 24-hour care and is totally incontinent so I get a months respite care every year to give me a rest.

"It was devastating to return from the break to find the house in such a state."

Mrs Mullin added: "I am always slipping in and out of diabetic comas and the stress of the leak has really affected mine and Frank's health. I'm sure this has really upset him."

A doctor has told Mrs Mullin that because of the damp they should move out until the walls are completely dry, which is expected to take at least six weeks.

The father of the owner of next door, Anthony Malone, said: "We are really sorry that so much damage has been called but as my son, Mathew, does not live at the house it took some time for us to realise there was a leak. The problem was made worse because we had to turn the water back on to find out where the leak was coming from, which is why the water might still be seeping in.

"We have been in touch with Mathew's insurance company today and they have said that they would cover the cost of alternative accommodation for the Mullins until the house is fit for them to return"