ELDERLY residents in sheltered housing say they fear for their safety after six weeks without on-site staff.

The full-time warden at The Reddings sheltered housing in Bulwark, Chepstow, home to 38 residents, retired more than two months ago.

But Monmouthshire county council has still not hired a replacement.

Now the elderly residents of The Reddings say they are worried they will be left without a warden permanently.

Betty Manning, 88, said: "It's not safe. Our oldest resident is 97 and if one of us falls down, it was always the warden who came to help or called the ambulance."

Mrs Manning fell a few weeks ago when she went to post a letter and was taken into hospital overnight.

She said it was sheer luck the previous warden's husband was clearing out the flat and was able to call her an ambulance.

Residents of The Reddings have already held a meeting with the council's local area manager.

They were told a questionnaire would be sent out asking them to outline what they want.

A council spokesman said: "At the meeting it was agreed the council would respond to residents' concerns by the beginning of October."

Fellow resident, Joan Merrick, 74, is angry at the council's lack of action.

She said: "What we want is a warden. At the moment we get two quick visits a week to check on us and that's it. We really miss our warden - she was wonderful."

If there is an emergency residents have a cord to pull which sends an alert to police but they say this is not enough.

Mrs Merrick said residents have not received a questionnaire from the council yet and are now worried there will be a long wait before they get a warden or that the service will be axed completely.

She said: "I feel because you are old you are talked down to and treated as a second-class citizen."

Local councillor and Mayor of Chepstow Armand Watts said: "The Reddings is one of the largest sheltered accommodation complexes in Monmouthshire.

"These people have been completely left in the lurch."