Elderly and disabled residents are waiting up to two years for improvements to their homes as waiting lists continue to soar, new statistics reveal.

Nearly 300 people are already waiting an average of 16 months for adaptations like ramps and stairlifts so they can use their council properties properly.

Hounslow Homes, the council's housing arm, must find more than £1.25 million to complete the outstanding work - a figure that is rising every month.

Its waiting list increased by 152 last year and by another 50 during July and August alone. In 2005/6 there was a backlog of just one case, with an estimated cost of £25,000.

Members of the council's Adults Health & Social Care Scrutiny Panel are due to meet tonight night to discuss how best to tackle the growing problem.

Labour councillor Matthew Harmer said it was unacceptable to leave people waiting so long for improvements which could dramatically improve their quality of life. He said: "These people need adaptations so they can get around their homes and it must be very distressing to learn it will take two years before they can use their bathrooms properly."

A report for Hounslow Homes' last client liaison meeting in May goes on to predict a waiting list of between 300 and 350 by the end of the financial year, with those at the top of the list having waited up to 22 months.