A mother-of-three says she is at her wits' end because of damp in her home.

Joanne Edwards has rented a three-bedroom house in Elm-wood Road, Keighley, from Bradford council for five years. She says water constantly drips down the walls and that they are covered in black mould, causing wallpaper to peel off. Recently a toilet cistern fell off the bathroom wall, causing damage to the kitchen ceiling below.

Bradford council says it is trying to solve the problems.

Mrs Edwards says she has had to throw out carpets and that clothes belonging to her and her children have been ruined. She says she has constantly complained to the council but claims 'they just keep fobbing me off'.

She received several visits from workmen this week as they began a series of repairs.

The 26-year-old says the problem is made worse bec-ause both she and her son, age four, suffer from asthma. "The council just don't seem interested," she complains. "I have stripped the walls and had them treated, but the damp just will not go away."

Mrs Edwards says she is constantly having to decorate rooms in the house. "It is costing me a fortune," she says. She says she wants to move, but has been unable to find alternative accommodation. "I have even asked for a swap but nobody wants to move into this house," she claims. "I don't know what to do anymore. It is really upsetting for us all."

A Bradford council housing spokesman says: "We appreciate Mrs Edwards has damp problems and we are trying to solve them. The problem upstairs is primarily caused by condensation and an electrician called last Thursday to repair the automatic ventilator on the landing which circulates air to help alleviate condensation. This has been fixed once but has broken down again. A surveyor has also called to check the cavity downstairs for rising or penetrative damp as Homecare have recommended this before they do any work.

"We appreciate there has been a delay but it is important to solve the damp problem before cavity wall insulation is installed. We wrote to Mrs Edwards on December 2 bringing her up to to date."

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