A COUNCILLOR has spoken out after it emerged hundreds of council houses have not had their gas safety check this year.

Figures show 92 pc of the 20,000 properties which Wigan Council is responsible for inspecting have had their annual check so far this year.

But there are 1,160 outstanding gas safety checks in the borough as of this week, including homes in Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley.

Cllr Fred Walker (Leigh East) said: “When you live next door to one of these people, it’s bad news for you, and it’s bad news for that part of the estate.

"So, as far as I’m concerned, it’s not acceptable the level that we’ve got to. And when you say that there are some that are several years old, that’s even more frightening.”

Council bosses say the pandemic is partly to blame but some homes have not been checked for years.

Heather Coombs, the council’s strategic buildings manager, said in most years, between 97 and 99 pc homes are checked.

Each year some tenants refuse to allow access to their gas supply – but this number is increasing. Some tenants have refused access as they are shielding or self-isolating.