A MUM says she and her two children have been forced out of their council house by an infestation of rats.

Wendy Peppiatt claims her family, including son Kris, 13, and daughter Ashlee, eight, had to leave their house in Tredegar Road, Ebbw Vale because of the vermin.

The single mother said she had spoken to Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council’s environmental health team - but had been told to remove them herself.

“It’s been going on for months,” she said.

“It sounds like a heard of elephants stampeding around in the attic, and they’ve been in my kitchen and bathroom as well.

“Pest control came out and put poison and traps in the loft but I’ve not heard anything from the service since.”

She added: “It’s making my children ill.

“My son has been suffering from chest pains and my little girl has been feeling sick. And I had fluid in my lungs a few weeks ago - I had to have steroids and anti-biotics.”

“I’ve got a little brother who’s five and has cancer.

“He wants to come round but I can’t have him here because it will make him sick.”

Ms Peppiatt said she and her children had been staying with her parents nearby, but that it was not suitable as a permanent arrangement.

She also said she had told Tai Calon they needed a three-bedroom house, as the Tredegar Road home only has two bedrooms. It has seen Ms Peppiatt sleeping in the living room, so her children can have rooms of their own.

She added: “I’ve had to find £900 to secure a private property.

“But I’m a single mum on benefits, so all my money’s going on that - I’ve got nothing left.”

A Tai Calon spokeswoman said: “We can confirm we have been working with Ms Peppiatt and the contractor Mitie concerning rats at the property.

“All required work was completed on May 31, 2018, and there has not been any reports of the problem returning since this work was done.

“Tai Calon let empty homes in partnership with Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council, who manage the local waiting list for housing.

“Ms Peppiatt has requested to move to a bigger property and is currently on this waiting list.

“We will be contacting Ms Peppiatt to confirm her current priority and to check that the details held by the council are up to date and correct.”

Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council did not respond to multiple requests for comment.