A BARRY couple have slammed a local painting company for building work they allege has been left messy and unfinished.

But the well-known tradesman claims the couple are being unfair as he has tried repreatedly to resolve the situation.

Joyce, 62, and John Ambridge, 55, of Plymouth Road, Barry Island say painter Andrew Brookes of JMJ Painters and Bathstone Renovation Specialists has ruined their home.

They claim he was asked if he would knock their outside toilet and shed into one. They also wanted two PVC doors and two PVC windows. It was agreed they would pay £2,400 for the complete work, and gave him all but £300.

But when they refused to pay him the last £300 until the work was finished, they say he left the work half done and refused to complete it.

Joyce said: "We'd used Mr Brookes' company the year before. We gave him money up-front and he'd done a good job. Then we met him again and said we needed other work to be done. He said he'd do it, but he's left us with a real mess."

John said: "When he stopped working, we contacted him. He said he was ordering doors. But then he refused to talk to us."

The couple say have repeatedly asked Andrew Brookes to finish work. Joyce said: "We've been in touch with another builder, who said it would cost over £3,000 to put right."

Mr Brookes told the News: "I charged £760 for materials and £800 for labour. The last £300 was to buy the doors. Up to then, I had paid for most of it out of the labour money. I've offered to give back the remaining money. I even agreed to go back at one point, but needed the last £300 to get the doors they wanted. I tried to do it as cheaply as I could for them. But after they phoned me and became aggressive, I didn't want to go back and work for them. I've never had any other complaints from any other customers in Barry."