A DAUGHTER who won a two-year fight for justice after her mother's care home death says even now the council is "sticking two fingers up" at her.

Christine Muir turned to the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) after the council failed to deal with complaints about the treatment of her 86-year-old mother Irene Roberts.

Mrs Muir, 50, alleged lack of care for her mother at Denton Court, Birch Row, Bromley, before her death from cancer in August 2003.

In May an investigator for the LGO, which examines complaints against local authorities, found in her favour on aspects of her mother's care and deemed the council's failure to investigate Mrs Muir's complaints of maladministration'.

In a settlement agreed before the case reached the ombudsman, it was decided the council should apologise and hand over £1,000 in recognition of the failings.

But two months on, the council has yet to do either ignoring a succession of deadlines set by the ombudsman.

LGO investigator Richard Barnwell told Mrs Muir: "I consider you have suffered an injustice as a result of this failing.

"You have a justifiable sense of outrage your complaints about the levels of care your mother received were not investigated properly at the time."

The resident of Chessington Way, West Wickham, said: "It's now two years since I filed my complaint.

"The longer the case went on the more I became concerned about lack of care."

She added: "I feel sorry for anyone who has to complain to social services for care they should be receiving. It feels like it's you who's on trial.

"There is a tolerance level in Bromley when it comes to the abuse and neglect of the elderly.

"This is just not acceptable in this day and age."

She said the council's failure to respond to the agreed terms for the closure of her case as "like two fingers up to me and the ombudsman".

She added: "My mum was my life, she was my best friend. I did all I could to keep her safe and help her live in her own home.

"But when her health started to deteriorate, it took its toll on my health, so I asked social services for help. Then the nightmare started."

Broomleigh Housing Association runs the Extra-Care Housing Scheme at Denton Court but the council provides social care there.

A council spokesman said: "The ombudsman has decided not to further investigate the complaint made and there has been no finding against the council, so it would be inappropriate to comment on the individual case."