A MOTHER who is living in one room with five children has made a desperate plea for a home to be found for her family.

Melanie Pyke, 28, from Newport, has three children aged seven, five and 18 months, and also has custody of two of her deceased sister’s children.

She revealed that they are living in a B&B in Abertillery where the family share one room on the third floor with only a microwave and a small fridge. They also have to use a shared bathroom.

She also has to take the children to school in Newport every day.

“It’s one room with four beds,” she said.

“My little girl is in a travel cot and the other three are in beds, but the boy is on the floor because I can’t put him in the single bed in case he falls out.

“There is nothing to do in the area, we go home and I feed them in the room and they are eating microwave food all the time because that’s all I have. Then I take them for a shower so I have to take all of them, and sometimes there is someone in there and I can’t do anything.”

The family is also cut off from Miss Pyke’s mother Karen, who has been a huge support in the past, as she is not allowed to visit the B&B.

“My mum is a massive support and she helps with the washing and the cleaning,” Miss Pyke said.

“Nobody is allowed to visit us in the B&B so things like taking shopping upstairs is hard because I am unpacking all the bags with five kids because I can’t leave them in the room.”

Miss Pyke was living above the pub where she worked until her sister died on Wednesday, April 11, and she had to give up work to look after the children full-time.

She said: “I gave up my job because the kids were finding it difficult. I am also fighting for her other daughter who is in foster care, but I can’t take her until I get housed.”

On Friday, June 8, she went to Newport City Council and the family were sent to the Blaenau Gwent B&B as there was nothing suitable in Newport.

Ms Pyke says she fears for their safety in the B&B. She said: “If there was a fire then getting five of them out from the top floor, especially at night - not everyone would make it.

“I will take anything, I’m so far away from Newport and need to be closer for the children’s schooling. I’m desperate.”

A spokeswoman from Newport City Council said: “Decisions to house families in bed and breakfast accommodation outside Newport are not taken lightly and not done if it can be avoided.

“We have more than one family with complex and difficult personal circumstances in temporary accommodation and we are doing everything we can to help them all.

“Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of our dedicated housing team, there is a limited supply of temporary accommodation and a shortage of family housing.

“We have been actively seeking to source other temporary accommodation in order to bring the family back to the Newport area at the earliest opportunity.”

Miss Pyke has been registered homeless since December. She has been bidding for housing but she has been outbid on every occasion.

The Newport council spokeswoman added: “Households are listed in priority order on the 'Home Options' waiting list, but there is significantly high demand for housing overall.

“Ms Pyke is applying for vacancies and being considered but the housing associations are responsible for letting their properties through this process.

“We have discussed other options with her around finding privately-rented accommodation and have offered assistance in securing this and will continue to do so.”