A PENSIONER who nursed his dying wife while caring for his severely disabled son says he feels abandoned by social services.

So bad is the situation that 70-year old Kevin Haunch of Burtonwood says that he is at the end of his tether, as full time carer for his 42-year-old son Stephen who has cerebral palsy.

Just last week his wife of 30 years, Helen, died after a long battle with cancer. At the time he was nursing her while feeding, bathing, and dressing Stephen.

At one point last month Mr Haunch, who has a spinal injury, had to leave hospital paralysed from the waist down and says he had to shuffle along the floor to care for his wife and son.

He says he has not slept for more than two hours a night for the past nine months and is now beyond desperation.

He claims that requests for respite care for his son, who cannot walk unaided, something the council refutes, have been ignored with only the option of a permanent place in a home being offered.

He said: "In the past 12 months they have assessed the situation six times. The last time they came and asked me to wake up my dying wife so they could interview her. I snapped and sent them away. What they don't know about us after six assessments I can't fathom."

He also claims that, despite frequent calls for assistance, social services say that his situation needs to be assessed as they are unsure whether he needs help.

"I asked for them to widen the doors a couple of inches to allow wheelchair access for my son and wife but they said it didn't need doing.

"I'd bought the new doors and hinges myself. I wasn't asking a lot. Stephen can't walk without me holding him otherwise he'd have falls like he has in the past.

"Stephen used to go to a day centre but the charges have gone up so much I can't afford to send him there anymore. He doesn't understand that Helen is dead and keeps sobbing.

"I don't want to put him in a home, I've cared for him for 42 years - all I want is a rest."

Helen Sumner, strategic director of community services, said: "The council's occupational therapists have carried out several assessments of Stephen's mobility needs and he can walk unaided. Therefore, there is no need for him to use a wheelchair at home.

"Mr Haunch has been assessed as a carer and services have been offered, but these were refused. If Mr Haunch changes his mind, we would be happy to provide him with further help."