A MUM-of-two is frightened to answer her front door after Bolton Council rehoused her in a property, which she claims was previously lived in by a drug dealer.

Sharon Burrows says that since moving into the house in Carlton Street, Farnworth, two weeks ago, her life has been turned "upside down".

Her catalogue of complaints include being inundated by callers looking for drugs; being the victim of an attempted break-in; and being visited by police, armed with a warrant, looking for the previous tenant.

Sharon and her two children, Dean, aged 13, and Charlotte, nine, moved into the house while their council property in Darley Avenue, Farnworth, undergoes major structural work.

But she says the family have been hounded by people looking for drugs night and day since.

Sharon said :"If the council had told me what we would have to put up with while the house is being renovated I would never have agreed to move in here. Night and day people are knocking on the door looking for drugs.

"Its got to the stage where I won't answer the door and I certainly won't open it unless I know the person. Our lives are being made a misery."

According to Sharon, 32, the day after moving in two youths attempted to break in at the rear of the house in the early hours of the morning. Fortunately she heard them and when she shouted they fled.

The next day, she claims, the police arrived on her doorstep armed with an arrest warrant, and looking for a previous tenant. I told them I was a new tenant but they wouldn't have it. In the end I told them to go to the estate offices and check with the council. It's been unbelievable."

"I just want to return to my own home. They have said that I might have to stay here another six to eight weeks. But I won't be able to last that long."

A spokesman for the council said: "The work we are carrying out on her home should be completed a week this Friday. She has requested further work to be done but because of the problems she is having this can be done with the family in the house. We became aware of the problem last Thursday and we have visited the family three times since they moved in to see if they are alright."

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