A pensioner who has been unable to have a proper bath for two years because she suffers from severe arthritis has called on her council to hurry up and fit a shower at her home.

Phyllis Ovard cannot get in or out of the bath at her flat in Buckley Close, Hangleton, Hove, because of her painful condition.

The 78-year-old widow says a walk-in shower would be much easier to use. Despite asking Brighton and Hove City Council to fit a shower nearly two years ago, she is still waiting.

Friends and councillors are calling on the council to end Mrs Ovard's misery by fitting a shower as quickly as possible.

Mrs Ovard said: "I have had severe arthritis all over my body for about four years and I just cannot use the bath.

"I have had to wash myself as best I can but it is not the same as having a good soak.

"The hot water helped ease the pain from the arthritis but it has got worse since I have not been able to have a bath.

"I asked the council for a walk-in shower in August 2004 and they sent an occupational therapist to assess me in July last year.

"They say they are still dealing with cases from 2003 and that I am on an intermediate list. But they have no idea when the shower will be fitted."

Hangleton councillor Dawn Barnett has asked the council to make the great-grandmother's case a priority.

She said: "It's a disgrace that Mrs Ovard has had to wait so long for the work to be done. She told me she longs to get her dignity back again.

"The council needs to have a proper look at what is going on if it is three years behind with fitting showers for people like her."

Mark Barnard managed to get showers fitted for several elderly residents when he was a Hangleton councillor.

He said: "It took me four years to get a shower for one elderly gentleman. This is a matter of personal dignity. Surely washing is a basic human right. I just do not understand how elderly people can be abandoned in this way."

A city council spokesman apologised for the delay Mrs Ovard has experienced.

He said: "Our occupational therapy team is trialling new ways to cut waiting times and to speed up the assessment process.

"We run bathing clinics at our Daily Living Centre where we are able to assess people's needs more quickly.

"We did recently offer Mrs Ovard the chance to visit the bathing clinic. Unfortunately, she was unable to attend but we remain keen to help her as soon as possible."