A Royal Navy veteran says his flat is so mouldy even his shoes are turning green - but his pleas for help are going unheard.
Steve Garner revealed after five years of living at in sheltered accommodation in Erturia Locks, Stoke-on-Trent, he has had to change his mattress twice after they went mouldy.
The 66-year-old armed forces vet has accused his landlord Sanctuary Housing of ignoring him and leaving him to live in the "uninhabitable" flat.
Steve, a former prison officer, said: "I am at the end of my tether. I went on holiday back in January and I was so scared to come back. I couldn't even get in my bed, it was that damp and cold.
"The bedside cabinets are going green on one side. I'm getting colds and coughs all the time. I dread going away, even just for the weekend, in case it gets worse.
"It costs twice as much to try to heat the place to dry it out. It is almost uninhabitable."
On one occasion, when he was returning home from a holiday to Gran Canaria, he couldn't get back into his bed due to the mould and was left dejected and close to tears.
He told StokeonTrentLive: "I just feel like I am being ignored. I think Sanctuary should be taking more of an interest. I've never missed a beat of my rent. I am absolutely fed up with it. Nobody is listening. I am totally ignored by Sanctuary.
"It is a lovely flat but this is a big issue. I bought a new pair of trainers the other day, left them in the cupboard, and not long after they were covered in green mould. This stuff is spreading through my flat. I won't wipe it down and I want somebody to come out and look at it and say 'no, that's not right'.
"Nobody should have to live like this. I am fed up with it. It's everywhere, I don't want to be here anymore but I don't want to leave here either. It's like they just don't want to know. I have to regularly clean all my shoes due to the mould."
A Sanctuary Housing spokesman confirmed it the housing company was aware of the case.
They said: "We are committed to tackling mould and damp in our homes and significant work to improve the ventilation in Mr Garner’s flat has already been carried out.
"Following an inspection, a further appointment is being arranged for an external contractor to carry out additional upgrades and we will ensure they are completed as a matter of urgency."
