A GORLESTON pensioner fears she will not get the vital care she needs to help her overcome her debilitating conditions unless she can find a new council flat close to her family.

A GORLESTON pensioner fears she will not get the vital care she needs to help her overcome her debilitating conditions unless she can find a new council flat close to her family.

Joan Clare, 67, and her late ex-husband Brian Head, of Kings Road, Gorleston had applied to Great Yarmouth Borough Council in October to be moved from their Gorleston flat to a new home in Yarmouth, so they could be near relatives who could care for them.

The pair were offered joint tenancy of a two bedroom flat in Ordnance Road.

But the housing department withdrew the offer when Mrs Clare told them mid-December that Mr Head had died on December 3.

Mrs Clare viewed the new flat on December 4, the day after Mr Head had died, but said she had not told the council at the time because she was in mourning and pre-occupied with planning his funeral.

The decision means Mrs Clare, who suffers from the lung diseases emphysema and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD) and arthritis, has to continue living in Gorleston until she can find a more suitable home and cope with her conditions. These restrict her movement and make it difficult for her to grip objects.

She was told last week the Ordnance Road flat offer had been withdrawn, but the council has since decided to put the flat on hold until Ms Clare's needs have been re-assessed in the New Year.

She said: “I am going to need a carer. Sometimes I cough so much I just black out. If it happens while I am on my own at the Kings Road flat, the old lady next door is too ill to come and help and there is no one else who can provide care.”

A council spokesman said: “The borough council were saddened to hear of Mr Head's death and our condolences go to Mrs Clare and her family.

“The council does have a significant demand from applicants needing two bedroom ground floor dwellings and there are a number of other households in housing need who have bid for this property. However, due to the circumstances, the flat will be held until Mrs Clare's own needs are re-assessed first thing in the new year.”