A NEWPORT mum whose family say they have been sleeping in their car for over three months, has thanked Argus readers for their messages of support and offers of accommodation and help.

Deborah Talbot confirmed this morning that they have "their first viewing of a place tomorrow, so hopefully we will get something sorted."

As we reported yesterday, Newport mum Deborah Talbot, 41, her partner Glyn Jones, 60, and their daughter Rachel, 23, say they have been sleeping in the family car since losing their Newport home on Coverack Road on July 7.

Also sharing space in the car are the family pets, Staffordshire bull terrier Jake, two cats called Cassy and Macey and a cockatiel named Samuel.

She said that they struggled to pay their mortgage on their family home of 12 years after she lost her supermarket job.

Since the story ran, private landlords from across Gwent have been in contact to see if they can help the family, while others have offered to house their pets until the family find a home.

One woman called our newsdesk offering to let them use her two spare rooms — and take in their animals.

The family have been passed the contact telephone numbers and will be contacting the people regarding their kind offers.

Messages of support have also been left on The South Wales Argus website.

One user wrote: “In the sixth wealthiest country in the world, it’s shocking that people can end up having to live like this. I really hope that this family have a change of fortune soon and can find decent accommodation.”

Another said: “How can our elected councillors sleep at night knowing that this family are suffering like this?”

The family said none of their friends were able to house them because they don’t have the room, so they have to use leisure centres to shower, store their bedding in lockers, and use launderettes to wash their clothes.

Mr Jones is a taxi driver, so while he is working, Miss Talbot and her daughter walk around the city with nowhere to go, and at night, they park up somewhere quiet to sleep.

But she is growing increasingly worried as the cold weather is starting to set in.

Miss Talbot said that she has approached private landlords and has been bidding on properties on Newport City Homes, but believes that the pets have led to difficulties in finding a property.

Newport Council confirmed that Mrs Talbot applied under the homeless provisions in July after her home was repossessed and accepted that she was homeless but not in priority need.

But they have offered her advice and support.