AN angry landlord has hit out after a gas company made alterations to one of his properties, leaving a newly refurbished kitchen looking like a "very bad Banksy".

As part of a scheme to redo the pipework in Mimosa Court, Colchester, Tony Gearing says Cadent moved the gas meter in one of his students properties to “slap, bang in the middle of the kitchen”.

He is calling for the company to return and fix the bodge job, which he believes was done to save money on piping in the newly replastered kitchen.

"The meter is no longer discreetly hidden away in a meter cupboard where it should be," Mr Gearing said.

"The students now have a tatty old meter in the middle of a freshly replastered and repainted wall.

"It’s like a very bad Banksy staring back at them whenever they have their breakfast.”

Cadent and subcontractor Triio were given Mr Gearing's contact details before the work was due to start, however the businessman says his property's gas was cut off without him being notified.

Mr Gearing said: "I then arranged to have them let into the flat so they could reconnect the gas.

"Without consulting me they took the old meter out of the meter cupboard and fixed it on a newly plastered wall – slap, bang in the middle of the kitchen."

Mr Gearing also claims the block of flats endured months of disruption whilst the works were carried out, and other residents have lost kitchen cupboards because of the meter move.

He said: "These are small flats, often with large families living in them. They cannot afford to lose vital storage space.

“I believe Cadent has taken advantage of the fact that people living in these flats are working class or students."

The landlord is demanding Cadent return to move the meter back into the cupboard and repair any damage to the kitchen.

A spokesman for Cadent said: "Cadent has been carrying out essential work to replace ageing gas mains and service pipes in the road.

"This work is essential and will help ensure that residents keep on enjoying safe and reliable gas supplies in the future.

"We always try to design and deliver this work so it has as little disruption as possible on the lives and properties of those involved.

"Earlier this month we contacted the complainant in response to their concerns and have offered to visit the property involved to investigate these concerns further."

Contact Cadent on 0800 096 5678 if you have any further concerns.