A SHOCKED relative has described the `disgusting' conditions inside a sheltered housing flat where an 83-year-old widow lay dying for several days.

Kathleen Sanders, who was deaf, was found severely dehydrated collapsed on the floor of her home at Alfred Morris Court in Northern Moor, Wythenshawe.

She was taken to Wythenshawe Hospital, but she died later.

The regular warden at the sheltered housing complex was on holiday and managers have confirmed no one was covering the position when Mrs Sanders was found.

As reported in later editions of yesterday's M.E.N, Manchester coroner Nigel Meadows has asked detectives to investigate.

One of Mrs Sanders' few surviving relatives, sister-in-law Margaret Burns, has spoken of her shock at her death.

Mrs Burns said: "The thought that anyone could suffer on their own like that is appalling.

"They only noticed she had collapsed when they looked through the window of her ground-floor flat.

"An old lady like that should have 24-hour care."

Mrs Sanders came from a large family but had no children of her own. Her husband Ralph died about 15 years ago.

She is thought to have lived in Longsight before moving into the complex, on Fellpark Road, in about 2001.

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Mrs Sanders made weekly visits to see her brother, William Burns, in Wythenshawe, before he died.

His widow Mrs Burns, 64, said: "Kath was a very independent lady and kept herself to herself.

"I've been told by the staff that she often wouldn't let them into her flat. But they should have made sure someone went to see her, even if it was just to clean her flat.

"I was gobsmacked when I went to the flat to collect her personal things a few days after she died.

"It was full of flies and the bed was soaking wet.

"There was also a very mouldy loaf of bread in the kitchen and the pots were unwashed.

"She must have had to sleep on the settee, because she couldn't have slept in that bed. It was absolutely disgusting.

"Alfred Morris Court is a lovely place and the warden was a nice lady, but Kath's flat was a mess."

Mrs Sanders is said to have been last seen by another pensioner at the complex, which has 33 residents, four days before she died.

Three staff have been suspended pending an internal investigation by Parkway Green Housing Trust, which runs the complex.

Nigel Wilson, the trust's chief executive, said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with Mrs Sanders' family at this difficult time.

"Following Mrs Sanders' death in hospital, we immediately launched our own internal investigation. While this takes place, we have suspended a number of staff. We are also fully co-operating with the police investigation."

He added: "Cleaning is provided by Parkway Green only within the communal areas.

"It is provided within individual residents' flats only when social services identify that this is required, as residents live independently within such housing schemes."

A spokesman for the trust added later: "We can confirm that there was no warden cover when Mrs Sanders was found."

He added: "All residents in Alfred Morris Court have access to a 24-hour careline, run via a pull-cord system and pendent. This is fully operational and a warden is on site."