A DESPERATE Millom mother is pleading with Copeland Borough Council to take action after she and her five children have been left in housing hell for two months.

Mel Kidd has just weeks to find a new place to live after her landlord issued her notice to carry out vital repair works.

Two months ago Miss Kidd's life was turned upside down when the electrics blew in her Queen Street house leaving her with no gas or electricity.

Left with no heating, no hot water and no lights in all but one room, Miss Kidd has been begging the council to help find a place for her and her five children to stay.

Miss Kidd, 36, said: "One day in September I heard a noise. I got an electrician out who said the circuit had blown and that he needed to do a full rewire of the house but we would have to leave for six to eight weeks.

"The landlord then said they needed to do a full refurbishment which would take six to nine months.

"I spoke to the council in September and they said they would get us somewhere but we've heard nothing."

With her youngest child just one year old, Miss Kidd is in a dire situation as she does all she can to keep her children warm.

She said: "I'm just worried about the safety of my children. I said I shouldn't be here because the electrics could blow at any time.

"It's a death trap. If the electricity is overloaded the whole thing could blow."

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However, Copeland Borough Council maintains that the house is safe but that officers are working hard to find new accommodation for the family.

A council spokesperson said: “We are supporting Miss Kidd while she and her landlord resolve this situation. There is a shortage of properties for large families in Millom, but we are working hard (with both private landlords and social housing providers) to find somewhere.

"We did offer some emergency accommodation but it was too far from Ms Kidd’s home, and we understand why she did not want to accept it. We are satisfied that her current accommodation, whilst not ideal, is not dangerous, and it does have electricity.

"In the meantime we are speaking to her landlord to ensure that the improvements needed can take place as soon as possible.”

As the dark nights draw in and the temperatures plummet to icy levels, Miss Kidd is doing all she can to keep her children safe and warm.

She said: "It makes me feel powerless. The kids don't deserve this. "I'm not bothered about myself at all but I'm worried about them. They can't live like this

"I thought it would be sorted within a couple of months but it's turned into an absolute nightmare. This is hell."