For four years, disabled Peter Harmsom was left to fester alone in what neighbours say was one of the filthiest homes they have ever known.

His condition meant he was unable to cope with basic household chores and he was left to sink into a life of squalor.

That was until his 14-year-old neighbour discovered his plight and stepped in to help, carrying out a role normally provided by social services.

When Stacey Higgins saw her disabled neighbour struggling on his front step, she rushed to help.

But what she saw through his front door made her recoil in horror.

Stinking rubbish was piled 5ft high in the hall, the kitchen was stacked with dirty dishes and teaming with flies and rats, and mould was growing on the floors and walls.

As she started talking to him, Peter Harmsom told her he could no longer cope with the housework.

The 52-year-old ex-gardener has myotonia, a disorder which makes his muscles seize up.

He told Stacey, 14, he had contacted social services four years ago but was told help would cost £10 an hour, which he could not afford.

Dejected, he had not gone back.

And the mess had spiralled out of control.

Stacey, who lives next door in Abbey Close, Seaford, with her parents Donna McConnon and Bernie Higgins and brothers, Tom, 12, and Connor, three, was so appalled she decided she had to help there and then.

She had to force the door because it was blocked by the rubbish bags.

Inside there was just an 18in gap through the heaped sacks.

During the next three hours, she did what she could, clearing the hall of the rubbish, which had become infested with maggots.

She collected five bin bags-worth of unopened junk mail alone.

Stacey's parents joined in to help her and the schoolgirl rallied other residents who gladly stepped in to assist a neighbour in distress.

Soon all the children in the close were involved, mucking out the garden and cutting back the tangle of overgrown trees.

But their help only scratched the surface.

Neighbours believe it will take a team of environmental health workers to clear Mr Harmsom's house and return it to a place fit for human habitation.

Stacey, a pupil at Tideway School, said: "I had just come home from school last Tuesday.

Peter was trying to put some door numbers on his front door and was struggling to keep himself up.

"I went over and put the numbers up for him.

"I could see some of the rubbish through the front door.

"He told me he couldn't do much any more because he keeps falling.

"When I went into the house I was disgusted - not with him but at the fact that he had been left like this with no help.

"I didn't even think an animal could live in that mess. It really upset me."

Stacey's mum said: "When I went in I was absolutely disgusted. The smell turned your stomach.

"There were maggots, spiders and rats. We're not pointing any fingers at social services or trying to blame anyone, we just want to get some help for Peter .

"The kids round here have been amazing. Everyone has mucked in."

Last year, Ms McConnon phoned social services about Mr Harmsom because she was worried.

She said: "I had been worried for a while as we were seeing him less and less.

"They sent his doctor round but there was no answer. It wasn't followed up by environmental health.

"I've always checked he has collected his milk each day - if it's still there I know he is ill.

"I think Peter was ashamed but now he realises he really needs help."

Neighbour Lorraine Chambers, 41, said: "We're going to try to redo his garden as that is what he loves most.

"But there is a limit to what we can actually do in the house - it will take more than rubber gloves and scrubbing."

Mr Harmsom said he never intended to end up living in such squalor but because he could not do the housework, it got out of control.

He was diagnosed in 1990 with myotonia, a rare neuromuscular disorder which prevents the muscles contracting.

It has no cure and no treatment and his condition is getting progressively worse.

When he moved to Abbey Close six years ago, he was still able to get around and do most jobs in the house.

Now he can hardly walk and only gets out once a week, by taxi, to shop.

His sitting room reflects the pride he had in his home - ornamental plates on display, paintings on the walls and shelves lined with books.

Now most of his possessions are blocked by rubbish.

He said: "At first it didn't affect me much. It wasn't until 1998 that I had to give up work.

"I used to be able to walk to the shops and water the garden.

"I knew it would get worse. That is why I asked social services about four years ago if I could have help with cleaning.

"They told me because of my income level and benefits, I would have to pay £10 an hour, which I could not afford.

"After that I didn't ask again. I don't want to live like this. My old bungalow was spotless before I got ill.

"I was ashamed but now I have to let people know because it's got too much. I need help.

"If it hadn't been for my neighbours I wouldn't have got any help. They're amazing.

"I saw on television last year a man who died but no one found out for days.

"I thought that might happen to me. There must be other people like me who are alone and not getting any help either."

A spokeswoman for East Sussex Country Council said: "Social Services received a referral from Mr Harmsom's neighbour on Thursday.

"This will be passed to an assessment team who will visit him, together with environmental health.

"This should take place within the next two days to assess his needs.

"His neighbour got in touch with us in 2002 but she was told we could not respond unless he said he wanted help.

"We did not hear back from her but we did get in touch with his GP who tried to visit him.

"Mr Harmsom has previously refused any help from social services.

"We have no record of a call from him four years ago. I don't know where he got the £10 charge from, though services are means tested."