A WHEELCHAIR-BOUND veteran has been a prisoner in his own home for six months because he is in desperate need of a disabled ramp.

Geoffrey Richardson, 75, has been confined to a wheelchair for six months after the arthritis in his feet became too much to bear.

But a number of steps leading up to his home in Hemmingway Place, Nelson, make it impossible for him to get out.

Requests for a disabled ramp at the house, owned by Mr Richardson’s wife Jackie but sitting on land owned by Housing Pendle, have been knocked back.

Bosses at Housing Pendle say the land is too undulating and the work required to install a ramp would prove too costly.

But Jackie, who has lived with Geoffrey at the house for 18 years, said the former Army medic was becoming depressed because he could not go out.

She said: “He has arthritis in his feet so he finds it difficult to walk and he also has epilepsy and is diabetic.

“Up to this time last year he was quite fit and he did a lot of sports when he was younger.

“Being stuck in the house is having a real effect on him and he can get quite depressed.”

Janette Taylor, head of Housing Pendle, said: “We have worked with Mr Richardson and explained that we are unable to help as the surrounding areas of his home will require extensive work, which are unable to fund.

“We have indicated alternative sources of potential funding or that he could join the ‘b-with-us’ scheme so he can apply to get a home that could be specially adapted to meet his needs.”

Family friend Steve Allen has been helping Mr and Mrs Richardson in their bid to get a ramp installed.

He said: “Geoffrey is very upset. He wanted to go to see his friends at Christmas but we couldn’t get him off the estate.

Mr Allen said he had contacted Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson about his friend’s cause.

Mr Stephenson said: “He needs a ramp and he should have a ramp. I am exploring every avenue.”