A young mother-of-two claims a burst water tank has left her and her children homeless.

Donna Ward, 25, returned from a week-long holiday in Turkey to her home in Somercotes, Laindon, with daughters Disney, 18 months, and Bayley, six months, to find the floorboards soaking wet.

Problem - Donna's boyfriend Dean Mann inspects a water-filled lightbulb in the flat Picture: TERENCE BUNCH

Finding the flat in a soggy mess after a tank full of water had steadily seeped through the ceiling while she was away, Donna contacted the council to find alternative housing while waiting for council workmen to help her clean up the flat.

Her brother John Ward, a 33-year-old driver, said: "She came home and found the house had no electricity and no water supply because of the burst tank.

"Water was dripping through a light socket."

John added that his sister had been offered only one possible solution when she called Basildon Council.

He added: "The council have said that they cannot do anything apart from house her temporarily in the Palace Hotel in Southend because there is nowhere for the family to live in Basildon.

"There was no way they were going in there so they stayed in a hotel last night but they cannot go on like that either."

Basildon Council's area housing manager and senior technician were called to the house yesterday to inspect the damage.

A spokesman confirmed: "If it is found that the property is uninhabitable, then Mrs Ward will be found alternative temporary accommodation."

Published Thursday, June 5, 2003

Brought to you by the Evening Echo