ELDERLY and vulnerable residents at a new sheltered housing complex in Bradford have slammed BT for leaving them with phone or internet connections for almost two months.

The telecoms giant has been accused of breaking promises to residents - some of who suffer from dementia - of Elm Tree Court, in Thackley.

The complex, on Ellar Carr Road, opened on April 13. Yesterday, 50 out of its 51 apartments still had no landline and 29 apartments had residents in who have contacted BT to be connected. There is also no wifi internet in the complex's communal areas.

BT has blamed a parked car, and blockages where cabling was due to be laid, for the delays.

Amelia Hallas, service team manager for Housing and Care 21, the company that runs the home, said: "It is upsetting for the residents. They are vulnerable adults who cannot contact their family or friends. It is affecting people's minds and mental health. They are distanced from their families."

Peter Elliott's 87-year-old mum Jean moved into the complex on April 25. He claimed BT said the phone lines would be up and running by April 27. He also said that the building company behind the development had told BT last November that cabling work was needed.

"It is just inadequate," said Mr Elliott, who lives in Essex. "They are promising things and just not delivering at all. It is ridiculous."

He added: "My mum has Alzheimer's. My brother, who works, has to call round every day, when normally a phone call would suffice. He gave our mum a mobile phone, but the signal is not very good and she is unsure how to use it."

Mr Elliott accused BT of "going around in circles" and added: "How much longer is this relatively straight-forward work going to take?"

He also said he would be speaking to BT about a goodwill gesture for the disruption caused.

Margaret Rice, 79, lives in the complex with her 79-year-old husband Bob, who has dementia. The couple have one son who lives in Canada.

"It is absolutely stupid," said Mrs Rice. "We have not been able to get hold of him since May 4 when we moved in.

"My son wants to know how we are, and he wants to keep contact with his father."

Alma Ross, 80, lives in the complex with her 90-year-old husband Eric. Mrs Ross said she moved in on April 13 and was told by BT that her phone line and internet would be ready by May 1. Yesterday Mrs Ross said the company had given her a new completion date of June 24.

The couple have family in Australia that they have been unable to get in touch with. Mrs Ross also said she relied on the internet to do her shopping as it was not easy for them to get out.

"You just feel isolated," added Mrs Ross.

In emails to Mr Elliott, BT said its contractors were unable to carry out work on May 19 because of a parked car, to which Mr Elliott retorted: "Why had they not liaised with Highways to ensure they could access the road, and why not install barriers or signage on the road to stop cars parking the night before they started work?"

A BT spokesman added: "There were electrical services and an old Victorian gully in the way. It is regrettable when this type of new cabling is needed and we will be looking sympathetically at the issue of a goodwill payment."