I WRITE in response to your article headed: Damp blights life for family (December 16).

How can the council say that this family are not a priority when they are living in mouldy, musty, damp conditions with a two-week old baby and a son who has asthma? Sadly this is typical of New Labour.

If an asylum-seeker turned up with his family I am sure they would be housed in far better accommodation than these poor people have to live in. The council have to follow stringent guidelines laid out by the Government and you can bet your bottom dollar that if asylum-seekers or refugees were put in this house the Racial Equality Council would be up in arms.

Recent studies have shown that infant death can be attributed to excessive damp and mould. Environmental Assessment Services Ltd., quoting research from Ohio, USA, say that there is evidence of an association between the growth of black mould and infant deaths causes by pulmonary heamosiderosis (bleeding in the lungs). The black mould is not thought to directly affect the infants, but its spores contain the toxin trichothecene which acts to weaken the capillary vessels in the lungs. These vessels may then burst when subjected to an infection or other irritant.

I don't wish to alarm Mr and Mrs Scotson but if they get no joy from the council, may I suggest that they contact the Citizens Advice Bureau to see where they stand legally on health grounds. If the CAB can't help then contact us (details on the Internet at the library) and we will ask our legal team to look into this matter.

MRS AUSTIN,

Bury BNP Group (also a wife and mother).