COUNCIL chiefs have hit back at complaints over work on a block of flats.

OAPs living in the building in Water Street, Runcorn, say they have been forced to wear masks to protect them from the dust caused by work to remove asbestos.

They also claim the noise from contractors carrying out the work is unbearable.

Now they have launched a compensation bid after a burst waterpipesentgallons of water cascading into first and second floor flats.

However, the council says the disruption is acceptable and the local authority has done everything it can to lessen its impact.

A spokesman told the Weekly News: 'An independent HealthandSafetyinspector is employed to check the work is carried out safely.

'Hehas statedtheprojectis well run and the noise levels are acceptable.

'Urgent repair works had to be carried out on the rising water main to prevent a major flood in the building, and to minimise disruption the work was carried out during the early hours of Saturday.

'While the main supply was being frozen, a seal on the pipe broke and water discharged into the building. The emergency services pumped the water out but the main supply could not be turned off until the water authority arrived.

'There was only minimal damage and the affected areas thoroughly cleaned on Saturday morning.

But Diane Hambleton, whose 73-year-old mum Sylvia lives in one of the flooded flats, said: 'It's a dis-grace how old people are being treated.

'Most of them have got some sort of medical condition. The dust is making them worse.'