A MUM-of-two claims her family have been forced to live in ‘inhumane’ conditions for more than five years.

Kealy Hurst, of Devonshire Road, Atherton, says Wigan Council has yet to resolve a mould problem that she first noticed when the family moved into the council house as tenants in November 2011.

She believes it is contributing to her three-year-old son Freddie's health problems.

He was born with severe breathing difficulties and suffers from 'a bad chest', says Kealy.

“The mould is all over the house and it has got that bad we want to relocate as soon as possible," the 25-year-old said.

“It looks to me like it is black spot mould, which I am led to believe can cause chest problems.

"Freddie has a bad chest and I think his health problems are at the very least not helped by the mould.

“I feel helpless when I see him suffering so much."

The Wheatsheaf pub supervisor says she first made a mould complaint to the council soon after the family moved in.

She claims the council initially attributed the problem to condensation without inspecting the property and fitted a fan in the kitchen.

Kealy, who also has a six-year old daughter called Darcie-Rae, added: "It has got worse since the fan was fitted.

"We had a new bathroom fitted in August and there is already mould coming through.

"We pay full rent with my fiancé Shaun and I both working full time and we cannot believe the council has left us in this situation for so long.

“It does not seem humane to me."

She says the council has told her that the house is on a waiting list for mould treatment and the family have been waiting since last year for an appointment to be arranged.

The council refutes this, claiming it has tried to arrange with the tenants for the work to be carried out on three occasions.

Paul Barton, assistant director for environmental services at the council, said: “After receiving a complaint regarding damp in August we commissioned an independent survey to identify what work needed to be carried out.

“Following the report, work was swiftly ordered to take place, but on the three occasions when it was arranged – in September, October and January – the tenants refused or failed to arrange access to the contractors.

“We have again arranged for work to be carried out and will be communicating with the tenants to try to avoid being denied access to the property on the fourth occasion.”

Kealy claims the family were not informed that the council was calling round and were simply not in when it did so.