UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hello, thanks for reading and any advice would be gratefully received.....

My property that i rent oiut needed the front door replacing so i was asked to pay a 50% deposit which i coukd either pay my letting agent or the contractor.
I paid the contractor directly the 50%, i was told by the letting agent that the door had been ordered etc but then covid 19 stopped everything...
The letting agent kept the balance due to the contractor which they would pay once the work was complete.
Now i was under the impression that the door had been sorted until i visited the property.
Now it appears that the contractor has done a runner with my money!! My agent has returned the 50% they held, however they are telling me that because i paid the contractor initially, it was my contract, despite the fact that they kept my monies to pay the balance to contractor

I have given the agent notice as i certainly don't want them managing my property.  However how do i stand legally?? Is t worth me going to  the small claims court to pursue recompense or putting it down texperience
Was the contract intact mine as i paid the deposit???
Any advice would be appreciated

Many thanks