A mother who faces being thrown out of her home staged a sit-in with her children in a desperate attempt to get help from her Bradford MP.

Debbie Moore, of Ravenscliffe, claims she is unable to feed her two daughters and they are now facing eviction from their home.

Mrs Moore, 34, and the children, aged eight and 15, yesterday camped out at the offices of Bradford North Labour MP Terry Rooney in a final bid to get some help with unpaid child maintenance claims.

Mrs Moore, pictured with her youngest child, has been in contact with the Child Support Agency for ten months about two separate claims, one for each daughter.

She said: "I am at my wits' end. This is the last resort open to me. No mother should have to go through this.

"I have been trying to get the problem sorted out with the Child Support Agency for ten months, I just want someone to help me sort this out and get the money I'm legally entitled to.

"I voted to get Terry Rooney elected as an MP believing he would do a good job and help people like me.

"Staff at his office have tried to help by contacting the CSA on my behalf but haven't got any results. If my MP can't tackle the CSA and get a result what chance do I have?

"For the last ten months I have been living a nightmare, struggling to feed my children and care for them. I can't take any more. I have worked most of my life and paid my taxes so why can't I have some help now?"

Mrs Moore, who worked as a doctor's receptionist, is currently on sick leave and is suffering from depression, which she says has been caused by the stress of her situation.

"I've never got anywhere," she said. "The CSA say they have new systems in place and that's why it's taking so long but while they are changing their systems other people are losing their homes and can't put food on the table."

A CSA spokesman declined to comment on Mrs Moore's case but said: "The CSA introduced new IT systems in March and has been experiencing problems, as is often the case with new technology.

"At the same time a new simpler formula for calculating payments has been introduced which will assist with cutting down waiting times. Unfortunately this new formula can only be applied to new cases and not existing ones therefore those people still on the old system will incur longer waiting times."

Mr Rooney said today: "I have great sympathy for anyone who reaches that level of desperation and me and my team will continue to assist Debbie and anyone else in her position in any way we can.

"The CSA is a ten-year tragedy and perhaps the worst piece of legislation introduced in the last century. I have dealt with hundreds of claims over the years and have had more than 300 cases to deal with in one period.

"In the past people needed to supply 104 separate pieces of evidence in order to make a claim. Now they just need a wage slip.

"This change will greatly improve the agency and give staff at the CSA more time to chase money instead of chasing paperwork."

Chris Hodgson, Head of Operations for Bradford North Community Housing Trust, which owns Mrs Moore's home, said: "We have unfortunately had to serve notice on Mrs Moore that we will take her to court if her arrears situation does not improve. We have also tried to contact her several times over the past few months without success.

"If she contacts her local housing officer to make arrangements to pay off her arrears we will proceed no further."