A FURIOUS mother of one is planning to take legal action against a Gwent council for "forcing" her to move home.

Sharon Kestell, from Pontypool, says she should be allowed to stay in her two-bedroom council flat despite the fact it was given to her on a temporary basis.

She claims she was originally told that the move could become permanent.

The former army medic, who now works as an emergency medical technician in Bristol, moved into the flat in Sebastopol in March with her five-year-old daughter, Chloe, who enrolled at Kemys Fawr Infants School last month.

The flat was made temporarily available because the single mother was classed as homeless.

Now Torfaen council has ordered her to vacate it by October 23 and move into a similar flat nearly two miles away in Blaendare.

The 29-year-old told the Argus she doesn't want to uproot her daughter, who has learning difficulties and attends Kemys Fawr's highly rated special needs unit.

She claims she was originally told by officers the flat in Oaklands could possibly become permanent.

Torfaen council says it has always been clear that the flat was temporary.

A spokesman confirmed the council was awaiting a response from Ms Kestell's solicitors over the matter.

Ms Kestell says she is taking legal action in a bid to fight the council's decision.

"We've made a home here and Chloe has settled into a school which has excellent provision for her needs," she said.

"I can walk her to school and there is family nearby to help with childcare, because I work long shifts.

"All that would change if I have to move - it's absolutely ridiculous.

"They want to move me to exactly the same kind of flat in another area for the sake of it."

She added: "Even if Chloe can keep her place in the special needs unit she won't be able to walk to school.

"I will fight this all the way."

Councillor Gwyneira Clark, executive member for housing and community safety, said: "This is one of a number of non-secure tenancies used as temporary accommodation for people of all ages who are homeless. It is an alternative to being placed in bed-and-breakfast accommodation."