A MOTHER is worried that her two sons could be taken away from her unless she finds suitable accommodation.

Emma Lambourne and her boys have been sleeping on a mattress on the floor of her daughter's flat for three months.

She said she was kicked out of her Fortis home, in Phoenix Court, New Street, in August, after allegations of bullying and anti-social behaviour.

The mother, who denies the claims, said the city council has reclassified her as 'intentionally homeless', forcing her to look for housing in the private sector.

The 43-year-old added: "The council need to help me more. They are saying social services have a duty of care but they only consider the children's welfare and they could go into care if I don't find somewhere suitable to live.

"I thought how they kicked us out of our property was unfair. I moved in with my daughter as I had nowhere else to go. Now she wants us out of here.

"She's got three dogs, three cats and three kittens, there's no room. Her step-son is sleeping in the utility room, which has sort of been turned into a bedroom.

"Me and the boys are sleeping on a mattress on the floor of the bedroom and my daughter sleeps on the sofa in the living room.

"I can't cope anymore, I'm living out of bags. I need somewhere I can call home, it's not fair on my children."

Ms Lambourne said neighbours complained about her children playing football outside the flats and using water pistols.

She added that they also claimed she was threatening them and smoked cannabis, which she denies.

The mum and her two sons, aged five and seven, are now living with her daughter and her step-son in their flat in Selsey Close, Worcester.

She claims she missed her opportunity to appeal the council's decision to classify her as 'intentionally homeless' as she did not read the letter about the appeal process, because she was depressed.

Ms Lambourne, who is unemployed, said she is looking for properties every day, although she is struggling to find an affordable place in Worcester that will accept her.

A Fortis Living spokesman said: “Eviction is always a last resort and often comes at the end of a long process to support those involved to stay in their home. Our priority is to make local communities safe places to live and we work closely with other agencies to achieve this."

A council spokesman said they had no duty to house someone who had been kicked out due to their own actions.

The spokesman added: "Councils have no statutory duty to assist in cases where someone has ceased to occupy suitable accommodation as a consequence of their own actions.

"Clients in these circumstances have a right to review our decision and are given full details of how to go about this.

"We also signpost them to legal assistance. Where a household is found to be intentionally homeless, we talk to county council’s children’s services team and explore alternative housing options.”