PENSIONERS living in sheltered accommodation say they are angry that the patio they paved has been pulled up, despite claims that it was safe.

Elgar Housing Association, which runs the Williams Tennant Way housing in Upton-upon-Severn, ordered the painted patio to be removed because it could be slippery.

But residents say they made sure that the patio would be suitable for everyone living there and are angry that they were told they would have to pay for it again.

"We asked permission to have a patio and a housing officer said there was no problem," said 65-year-old June Lewis.

She and her neighbours arranged for some slabs to be laid and decided to cover them with a paint they thought would be suitable.

"We'd had it for three months and then the housing association said it might become slippery and suggested a handrail," she said.

"But then they said the whole lot had to be ripped up and replaced. Now we've got slabs waiting to be put down which is more dangerous than before."

Mrs Lewis, who is diabetic and partially sighted, lives in a bungalow with her husband, John, aged 75.

He has severe osteoporosis and heart and lung problems and needs a mobility scooter to get around.

Elgar Housing Association said that they have not asked residents for payment for the patio and only pulled up the slabs after another resident called them with concerns.

"A resident contacted us saying that they felt that the paint was non-porous," said Julia Daker, marketing officer for EHA.

"An inspection took place and they found the area hazardous, particularly in areas where the residents had spilled water."

The housing association said they were replacing the slabs as quickly as they could and would make sure that the area was safe.