Liverpool charity for vulnerable women left with 'catastrophic' mess in property deal

Blackburne House's former chief executive says she could have wept' over soil pipes and uneven floor

For almost 40 years, Blackburne House has given a lifeline to thousands of Liverpool's most vulnerable women. But its former chief executive has described how the charity fell victim to a catastrophic" property deal that is embroiled in corruption allegations engulfing Liverpool city council.

Claire Dove, who has been awarded a CBE, MBE, OBE and Queen's lifetime achievement award for her work, had proposed to build an education centre but it went very wrong" when the council brought in a developer to build the facility along with 132 apartments.