HOUSING bosses sent a family of four cleaning fluid to wash their walls after they complained about mould – and gave them a dangerous toxic liquid by mistake.

Sarah Long and her partner Brad Adams discovered they needed overalls and a mask to use the cleaner when she read the intructions.

But they had only been given a paintbrush with which to apply the solution.

Ms Long, 36, and Mr Adams, 33, have been battling with Colchester Borough Homes since October to get the mould removed from the bedroom of daughter Brogan, 14, at their home in Holly Road, Stanway.

Colchester Borough Homes, which manages Colchester Council’s housing stock, has apologised for the blunder and said it will send a specialist to see the property.

Ms Long, whose son Leon was born prematurely in August and kept in hospital for two months, said: “This is the first time we’ve had mould, but it’s in the kitchen and my daughter’s bedroom.

“I’ve been constantly in touch with Colchester Borough Homes for seven months. But despite coming out to visit, it isn’t doing anything.

“It kept saying it would send a specialist out, but nothing happened.

“It then sent this mould cleaner to me and I could not believe it. The instructions said you needed all this safety equipment and all I had been left was a paintbrush.”

Mr Adams, said: “Our daughter is doing her GCSEs and all her clothes in in her bedroom are ruined.

“She is having to sleep in our room because of it so there are four of us sleeping in the one room. She’s had chest infections and throat infections and that’s just the way it’s been since the start of it in October.”

Ray Stephenson, Colchester Borough Homes’ operations consultant, said: “We would like to apologise to the tenants, because we supplied the wrong sort of mould wash.

“We will correct the mistake by sending a specialist to see them.”

Mr Stephenson said condensation can be caused by “lifestyle issues”, but that Colchester Borough Homes will take steps to fix problems.

He added: “Following several visits to the property, we have identified a number of things we can do to improve the situation.

“However, we have had some issues getting in contact with the residents to sort out appointments for this work.

“So, we would urge them to return all our calls, as we are keen to engage with them and sort these problems out.”