A paraplegic Bradford man claimed today he has had to hunch up in an undersized wheelchair for five months while waiting for a replacement.

Ian Galloway, 39, from Bolton, is still using the stop-gap wheelchair he was given after requesting a new one from Bradford Community Health Trust back in March.

The chair, which tips over backwards easily, has left Mr Galloway sprawling on the ground several times.

His full-time carer, Shirley Moran, claims they have asked repeatedly for a more suitable temporary chair, only to be told there wasn't one available.

She said: "Our main concern is that he keeps falling over outside and he could crack his head open, not to mention the humiliation of having to try to get up again.

"It's taken a long time for myself and his family to get Ian's confidence back so he could go out and about, and it feels like they're stealing that mobility away by not getting him an appropriate chair."

Mr Galloway has had to rely on a wheelchair since he was hit by a lorry while cycling in King's Road in 1977. The accident left him paralysed below the waist.

In March this year his chair broke and he approached the Trust's Wheelchair Services to have his needs assessed for a replacement. He was given the smaller one in the meantime.

When a proper new chair did arrive, around three weeks ago, it was the wrong kind, he claims - with a fixed back which made it useless for him to use when driving.

He said: "It's a bit of a joke that they measure you up for a chair and list all your requirements then get you the wrong one."

But a spokeswoman for the Trust insisted on a different version of events, although client confidentiality rules meant she couldn't discuss the details.

"We have received a complaint from Miss Moran on Mr Galloway's behalf and we are looking into that at the moment and are going to meet him to deal with it," she said. "We are working flat out in the meantime to get him a suitable wheelchair as soon as possible. It wouldn't be expected to take quite this long normally but there have been a lot of complications in this case, including problems with getting parts."

Bradford Disability Information and Advice Line offers a wheelchair hire facility, often used by people waiting for their own machines to be prepared by Wheelchair Services.

Information officer Sue Ratcliffe said: "Wheelchair Services offer a fantastic service but I am aware that the waiting lists have been growing.

"More people have been hiring chairs from DIAL for longer periods and that just shows that they must be under a lot of pressure."

l Mr Galloway received his replacement chair yesterday afternoon.