A woman from Bean told friends and family she was "so happy" to finally have a hot shower just hours before she was taken critically ill with carbon monoxide poisoning, a court heard.

Linda Frost, of Stonewood, died aged 62 after holidaying at her chalet in Coronation Drive, Leysdown, last year.

Her neighbour at the site Terry Blackwell, 65, had fitted the bathroom boiler for her on Saturday, April 12, and she was taken ill the next day after a fatal shower.

Mr Blackwell installed the boiler to thank Mrs Frost for letting him and wife Mary Blackwell stay in her house, the jury was told.

Blackwell, who appeared at Maidstone Crown Court today (October 9) charged with manslaughter, did not finish safely installing the boiler, which had a dangerous leak, the court heard.

He intended to finish the job on the Sunday, the jury was told. Mrs Frost died on Tuesday, April 15, at Medway Maritime Hospital.

Mrs Blackwell told the court: "The three of us discussed putting up the boiler.

"She was very excited about having hot water and a shower.

"But I can remember my husband saying that the boiler was not ready for use.

"My husband told her that although she was excited she would have to wait a wee while longer."

Mrs Blackwell added: "And I called back to her 'not yet Linda.'

"In several conversations Linda was told not to use the boiler.

"She was very excited to have a shower but I took it that she meant it in the future."

But the court heard that Mrs Frost told her grandson over the phone: "I can't believe I’m going to have hot water and a hot shower."

The jury heard that after returning from a car boot sale Mrs Frost was due to stay with the Blackwells on the night she fell ill, but after dinner went to her caravan to speak with her grandson Thomas Standing who was "upset about a girl".

The next day the couple accompanied Mrs Frost to hospital.

News Shopper: Linda Frost lived in Bean for 15 years.

Blackwell had fitted a kitchen boiler for Mrs Frost the year before - and she would wash in the kitchen as many others on the site did, witness Linda Archard said.

Greenwich resident Mrs Archard has holidayed at Coronation Drive for 50 years, and was a friend to both Blackwell and Mrs Frost.

She told the jury: "[Linda] was very excited.

"Lyn said she was going to have her first shower.

"I told her that she was lucky, because there was no running water until about 15, 20 years ago.

"Mary said not to forget that she couldn’t have a shower that day, because Terry still had to finish it.

"Lyn was really disappointed.

"I know that [Terry] had turned the Calor Gas off."

Prosecutor Philip Bennetts asked why Mrs Frost would have showered if she had been told the boiler was faulty.

Mrs Archard said: "I did find it strange. I would find it strange if anybody were to use it after being told there was a problem."

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Her husband Terry Archard said he spoke with Blackwell on the Saturday afternoon around 5pm, and the DIY-fan was aware of the leak.

Mr Archard said: "He said there was a gas leak, and he could not finish it.

"He said 'I can't fix it now, I will finish it in the morning.'

"It was just too late in the day. There was only one DIY shop as you go into Leysdown and it would have been closed by then."

Despite these claims, Mr Bennetts highlighted yesterday the exact wording of Mary Blackwell's police witness statements, dated from April 13 and May 29 last year.

Mr Bennetts said Mrs Blackwell has not confirmed her husband had told Mrs Frost that there was a leak in the boiler, only that it wasn’t ready yet and that he would switch it off.

Blackwell denies manslaughter, but has admitted a lesser charge of negligence.

The trial continues.