A mother has spoken of her misery as she and her four children are forced to live in one room while their new Southend council home is made safe.

Natalie Dunk, 25, has been waiting for more than three weeks for the house allocated to her by the council to have safety checks.

Meanwhile, she has been living in temporary accommodation - a single bedroom bedsit with no cooking facilities.

Miss Dunk said: "It has been a total nightmare. I have to share my bed with one of my children and it is very cramped with five of us in one room.

"I never know where I am going to get dinner every night as there are no facilities here. I have had to rely on family and friends every night just to eat - it is a terrible struggle."

Miss Dunk said: "I know this is only temporary, but it doesn't make it any easier."

A spokesman for Southend Council's housing office said: "We have to make sure all necessary repairs and safety checks are carried out before they can move in.

"We have been working to try to get this house ready for Miss Dunk to move in as quickly as possible and put the house at the highest priority."

Published Friday November 8, 2002

Brought to you by the Evening Echo