AN arthritic pensioner staged a placard protest outside Kidderminster Town Hall to drum up support for her campaign on housing repairs.

Pauline Rickson claims the programme of "planned maintenance" being carried out by Wyre Forest Community Housing in Fairfield estate, Wolverley, does not cover all the work that needs to be carried out.

"They seem to be doing those that aren't in need of repair and missing out those that badly need it doing," said the 61-year-old from Hayes Road, who also organised a petition during her protest. Pauline Rickson makes her point with placards outside Kidderminster Town Hall.

She said she was out when inspectors called and they just looked around the front garden for any repairs.

She also said that early one morning while she was putting her cat out, the door had accidentally closed and she had to force her way back in.

She said she was given a new door two weeks later but damaged framework was not replaced.

However, she claims "perfectly workable" doors on other bungalows have been replaced with new doors and frames as part of the planned maintenance programme by WFCH, which took over administration of former council houses in 1999.

WFCH strategy and marketing manager Fiona Law said it carried out repairs on a five-year cycle.

Wolverley was scheduled to have external work completed by the end of June including replacing guttering and woodwork and repointing brickwork.

She said Mrs Rickson's property had been inspected and the workmen made sure it was structurally sound.

She added a new hardwood door had been fitted rather than a UPVC door which would have taken six weeks to deliver.

"It was not felt to be appropriate to leave her with a temporary repair for this length of time," she said.