A chronically-ill pensioner is still being forced to sleep on her sofa more than a month after Bradford Council pledged to start making essential adaptations to her home.

Joan Stead, 75, waited for two years to make it to the top of a Bradford Council waiting list to have a stairlift and sunken shower installed into the home she shares with her husband Arthur, 72.

Now, more than a month on from signing and returning an acceptance slip for work to start, the couple are still waiting for a date for the installation at their home in Dudley Hill, Bradford.

Last month the Telegraph & Argus reported that since January Mrs Stead, who has Alzheimer's and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, had been forced to sleep on the sofa because she was no longer able to climb the stairs.

At that time Peter Kay, the head of Bradford Council's Adult Services, said: "There is no delay to the work required by Mr and Mrs Stead to install a stairlift and level access shower. Mr Stead just needs to confirm he is happy for it to go ahead by returning an acceptance slip."

Mr Stead, who told the T&A that he returned the slip on the day of the story's publication, said he was frustrated that he still had no idea when work would begin. He said since returning the form he had been asked to produce documents to prove his house was his own and also had to detail the monthly total of his and his wife's pension.

He said paperwork and red-tape,which could have been dealt with before they reached the top of the waiting list, were delaying the vital improvements.

Mr Stead said the Council had done a further assessment on the couple's needs and said further improvements were also on the cards, such as a wheelchair for his wife.

Mr Kay said: "The matter is being progressed and now includes some additional work identified for Mr and Mrs Stead. We are keeping Mr and Mrs Stead informed of each stage of their application."

But Councillor Rupert Oliver (Lab, Bowling and Barkerend) said: "I continue to have concerns about the process, and certainly in particular with Mr and Mrs Stead, perhaps matters could have progressed in a more speedy and sensitive way.

"I suggest we need to review the process and the level of resources available."