A desperate council tenant has told how she is forced to live in only one room of her home after being victim to a spate of burglaries.

Susan Wood said she has moved all her possessions into the front room of her Bradford property in a bid to protect them from intruders.

Mrs Wood, who lives alone in the four-bedroom house, added she could not afford to heat the house and so had effectively transformed her front room into a bedsit.

Mrs Wood, 36, of Kennerleigh Walk, Holme Wood, said she was waiting for Bradford Council to rehouse her in a one-bedroom flat.

The authority insisted it was doing this but had been delayed by Mrs Wood ruling out most of the city's estates.

Mrs Wood said: "I have been burgled five times in the last eight months and now I cannot sleep upstairs because it will just happen again. I have moved everything into the front room and I now eat, sleep and do everything else there."

She added: "I am deaf in one ear so I could not hear them breaking in. I am sure they know this and that is why they keep coming back."

And she said: "Also, I cannot afford to heat such a big place and I am literally living in the front room as though it was a bedsit."

Mrs Wood believes the Council has been slow to rehouse her because she owes nearly £1,000 for damage which she says was caused to the home by her estranged husband, who is now in prison for heroin dealing.

Mrs Wood, who is unemployed, said he had repeatedly broken doors and windows at the property as well attacking her.

"His behaviour meant that in April last year, my six children were placed into care," she said. "I think it is terrible that I am stuck in this great big house when there are families living in small flats which need it so badly."

A spokesman for Bradford Council said it had been difficult to rehouse Mrs Wood because she had ruled out all but two areas, where there were no properties available.

He added the office was "sympathetic" to Mrs Wood's cause and could house her more quickly if she was prepared to accept other areas.

"We are dealing with Mrs Wood's application for a move to a smaller home in another part of the district but the area of her choice is very popular and it is unlikely that a suitable property will become available within the near future."

He added: "However, we will be contacting her to discuss whether she would like to consider other areas where there are likely to be more vacancies.

"Four-bedroom houses are in great demand so we would be happy for her to make way for a family on our waiting list."

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