Dora McDonald, from Shenstone near Lichfield, reported that her pipes had burst four days previously.

She was finally able to return to her home on Tuesday afternoon. Her daughter Jan Roberts said she was left in unacceptable conditions.

Severn Trent Water apologised saying it regretted the delay in making repairs.

'Terribly distressing'

Mrs Roberts told BBC WM that her mother could not shower or even use her toilet.

"She hadn't got any plumbing at all," she said.

"There was excrement on the back door and over the patio and the lawn.

"The call centre was dreadful - most unhelpful and most obstructive. Normally you expect people to help out but they couldn't give us a time or a date."

Kate Cox from Severn Trent Water said the delay in repairs to Mrs McDonald's home had been "unacceptable".

"Quite simply it should not have happened. For whatever reasons, and we will be investigating, there was a delay getting out to her property."

She added: "It was a terribly distressing situation and we can't apologise enough for the distress and upset caused."