A BRENTFORD man is threatening to sue Hounslow Council for negligence and breaching health and safety regulations, claiming that council workmen left 'live' wires hanging from the ceiling in his bathroom.

Patrick Bennett, from Horn Beam Crescent, claims a plumber, who was not qualified to do electrical work, started working on the light fittings and switch in his bathroom, but then left the premises, saying an electrician would come and finish the work.

He says he was horrified because, firstly, what he claims were live wires were left hanging out of the ceiling and, secondly, after three weeks, the council had still not come to complete the job.

''You just don't expect that. I'm going to see a solicitor. Why should the council get away with it? What about Health and Safety? If they've done it here, it's possible they could have done the same in other places. There are four of us living here, including our seven year old grand son - what would they have done if he'd died?''

Mr Bennett eventually called in a private company to finish the work, after two weeks of waiting: I tried to get through to the council, but all I got was the automated service, so I rang a private electrician.''

The electrician, from 1st Access Ltd who was completed the job, said of the work: It's not a done thing to leave a job like that, it wasn't electrically safe. The pull switch wasn't safe. It was enclosed but not fixed to the ceiling.''

He continued: You would have to go out of your way to kill yourself from the way it was left, but it was definitely not safe and should never have been left like that, especially in a bathroom.''

A spokesperson for Hounslow Council, who have investigated the matter, said: While one of our plumbers carried out some work in Mr Bennett's home, he did not deal with any electrical issues, and I would stress that no live wires were left unattended at any time.

An electrician was due to complete the work, but was held up at a previous job. If Mr Bennett had contacted us at the time, we could have sent another electrician to complete the work immediately.''

May 30, 2003 12:00