Family's hell living in 'mushroom farm'

The owner of the house next door, which is believed to be the cause of the problem, has refused to allow anyone access to his empty property in Coleridge Street, Blackburn.

That has left the landlord Chris Collins, of Wigan, in a quandary as he can neither solve the root-cause, nor claim on insurance without his co-operation.

So the tenant, mum-of-seven Donna Jamieson, 31, is left living in a 'mushroom farm' which she fears is affecting the health of her children, aged between six months and 14.

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council's environmental health inspectors have deemed the house unfit.

But the owner has not responded to written requests to be allowed access to investigate the problem.

The inspectors believe there is a leak on a pipe in the next door property and that the damp had built up over time. Black patches and mushrooms began to appear in the downstairs front room of Ms Jamieson's home two months ago. They quickly spread to two other rooms and the top of the stairs.

She said if she could afford a tent she would gladly live in the street rather than suffer the choking smell any longer.

And added: "It has been horrible. This is the 'House From Hell'. We keep getting a gagging feeling in our throats and have to run to the toilet because we feel we are going to be sick."

Mr Collins, who lives in Wigan, fears the home will lead him to financial ruin -- unless the owner of next door comes forward.

He said: "The house is not paid for for another 10 years. I've spent a lot of money on the house as it was fully refurbished nine years ago, but now it is worth nothing."

Sally MacAlister, neighbourhood services manager at the council, said: "The Council have inspected Ms Jamieson's property and found it to be unfit. She has now been given priority for re-housing. We have contacted the owner of the adjacent house and requested access to enable us to ascertain the cause of the dampness."