A SOUTH Cheshire pensioner enjoyed cooking Christmas dinner for her family after a leading DIY chain finally completed a £5,000 kitchen.

But Kate Condrey, of Birchin Close, says her eight-month wait was unacceptable.

The 79-year-old widow contacted the Chronicle in November, claiming B&Q refused to finish the kitchen after buying it in April.

The delay meant she could not have any other work carried out on the home she has lived in for nine years.

B&Q told the Chronicle it would complete the work the following week after the story published on November 22 - but it took another two weeks for fitters to arrive.

Mrs Condrey said: 'I want to thank the Chronicle for putting my case. I was having no luck doing it myself.'

Suffering from emphysema, Mrs Condrey has been immobile for 12 years and she says the experience has made her condition worse.

'I wanted this kitchen for so long and it feels like a year has been wasted. All my decorating has been put on hold.

'I got my New Year's wish but it should have come an awful lot earlier. There have still been a couple of hiccups and it's all been very disappointing and stressful but it's a relief to have it done now and ready for me to cook in.'

Mrs Condrey said she was left in limbo for months surrounded by boxes and a half-finished kitchen with doors missing and a cooker that didn't work.

Three months after she ordered, B&Q told her the cooker she wanted was out of stock so they loaned her one. Unfortunately, it didn't work and had to be left in her garage, blocking the way to her electric scooter which she needs to get around.

Mrs Condrey and her son Fred said they tried on a number of occasions to contact the B&Q warehouse in Weston Road, Crewe, but staff told her it was nothing to do with them and she must contact the fitter.

B&Q has now completed the work and paid Mrs Condrey £400 in compensation including £15 for the numerous phone calls she had made to the company over the eight month period.

A spokesperson said: 'It is regrettable it took so long to finish Mrs Condrey's kitchen but we are delighted that we have been able to rectify the situation and complete her kitchen in time for Christmas.'