A woman has been waiting five months for repairs to begin after a fire in her neighbour's home damaged her rented bungalow - and meant her living in temporary accommodation in Coalville.

Linda Wells said the fire, which happened in May, spread into the roof of her own home and has left her unable to live there.

She was moved into temporary accommodation by her housing agency, East Midlands Homes (EMH).

But the new property in Coalville is more than 13 miles from her Braunstone Town home, and has left her isolated from her friends and family, the 65-year-old said.

After almost five months of trying and failing to get answers on when she might be able to go home, she said she was finally told this week that it would not be until the New Year – seven months after the fire.

Ms Wells said she was "not happy" with the further delay to her being able to return to her Beech Drive home, but it was "out of her hands".

EMH has said it is "sorry for the distress" she has experienced, adding work is set to begin in the property next week.

The agency said it has been working with its insurance provider since the fire to evaluate the damage and determine the repairs need.

Ms Wells said her main issue is there has been next to no communication from EMH up until Monday's meeting.

She said she suffers with anxiety and not having answers has been really difficult for her and explained: "They said [after the fire], 'oh, yeah, we'll just move you out for a couple of weeks'.

"But this was May, that's not just a couple of weeks.

"I never get any feedback from them. I've asked probably twice a week what is going on.

"I'm quite an anxious person but actually knowing the details and knowing what's going on, it just helps me.

"I suffered terribly with depression anxiety and [one Friday]. I just lost the plot.

"I was crying all day. It was just the fact that I just got so uptight because nothing is being said."

Ms Wells said if EMH had told her at the start she might not be able to go home for some months, it likely would not have had the same impact on her.

In addition to the isolation caused by the distance between her Braunstone Town bungalow and the temporary home in Coalville, Ms Wells said she is struggling because she has been put in a house.

She suffers with osteoarthritis and is finding the stairs difficult to manage, she added.

The house also has a bath, instead of a walk-in shower and she said she fell getting out of it a couple of weeks back, hurting her arm and back.

EMH has said it will arrange for grab rails to be installed for her.

Her bungalow needs repairs to the loft space, the flooring in the hall replaced and decorating in the lounge and kitchen, Ms Wells said.

They also need to replace the smoke alarms. But work is due to start next week, EMH said.

Ian Davies, director of property services at EMH said: "We are sorry for the distress Ms Wells has experienced due to the fire damage to her home. We have been working with our insurance providers since the incident, they have now evaluated the extensive damage to all the properties affected.

"They have also engaged with their approved contractors who will be carrying out the works on their behalf.

"Our insurers have now confirmed that work can begin on Monday, October 9, subject to Ms Wells' possessions being removed from the loft space. Our housing and neighbourhoods officer has offered solutions to help Ms Wells move her belongings to ensure there are no further delays in the works commencing.

"Our insurers will cover the damage to the building which will include decoration to the walls and ceilings. Ms Wells will need to speak to her insurers to ensure her damaged contents can be replaced.

"We understand that moving to a temporary home has been difficult for Ms Wells, and we have offered to refund Ms Wells for any expenses incurred as set out in our decant policy.

"A housing and neighbourhoods officer has been in close contact with Ms Wells during this time, and will continue to provide ongoing support. In addition, we have arranged for grab rails to be installed near the bath in her current accommodation."