FORMER soldier Andrew Bracey, 42 flew back from the out to the Invictus Games in Canada and returned home with an impressive haul of four medals.

The 42-year-old won four silvers in this year’s games for the 100, 200, 400 and 1,500 metres events in the IT4 Wheelchair racing category as his wife Sally watched from the stands.

Andrew was confined to a wheelchair in 2005 following a motorbike accident.

He said: “I flew out on the Thursday and Sally flew out on the Friday, in time for the opening of the games on the Saturday.

“After I competed on the Sunday and Monday we watched some of the other events and had look around Toronto. It’s a beautiful city.

“We went to Niagara Falls, which was amazing, we visited the CN Tower and then we went around the city, it was lovely.

“A highlight for me was watching the New Zealand wheelchair rugby team doing the haka before the game. The atmosphere was electric. I have applied for next year, we will just have to see how if I get it.”

Andrew moved into his current home with wife, Sally, almost six years ago. He says he was told then that his house would be adapted for his wheelchair after living at the property for one year. Five years on and there still no sign of any alterations.

South Essex Homes have confirmed that they only pay for a ramp at the front door and Armed Forces charity, SSAFA have agreed to pay for the back-door ramp following a breakdown of the cost.

Andrew said: “They wanted to move my bed, wardrobe and all my stuff downstairs but it won’t fit, so they finally agreed to put in a through floor lift so I can get upstairs. A surveyor came to the house just before I left for the games and said everything was fine and the work could go ahead, but I’ve still heard nothing.”

Mark Flewitt, councillor for housing, said he has been unaware of the situation but would be more than happy to to speak with Andrew.

He said: “I understand from officers that a third party referral was first made to the council’s occupational therapy team in August last year.

“An initial feasibility study was undertaken for ground floor adaptations only, but after drafting initial drawings and getting quotes it was felt that this would be too restrictive for the resident in terms of space. It was therefore agreed that we would look at an alternative and bigger scheme to carry out major structural alterations to the property by putting in a lift and adapting the upstairs.

“Officers are now finalising the exact specifications before putting it out to contractors to enable this work to take place.

“Prior to 2016, the only assessment undertaken by the council for this property was for bathing and toilet adaptations in 2014.

“However, work was unable to proceed as the resident was not on the tenancy of the property. This tenancy issue has now been resolved thanks to South Essex Homes.”