A young mother has moved her family of four to a single bedroom over claims her council estate neighbours were making her life a misery.

Stacy Sweeting left her council house in Winstree, on the Felmores estate, Pitsea, after a string of incidents with neighbours left her taking diazepam for stress and her son Ryan, two, developing behavioural problems.

Cramped - Stacy Sweeting with husband Shaw and children Ryan and Chelsea Picture: LUAN MARSHALL

Mrs Sweeting, 21, said: "The trouble started the week we moved in. On one occasion, somebody kicked down my front door, broke into my house and took our pet dog."

Mrs Sweeting has now moved her family into the spare bedroom of her parents' home.

She asked the council in November if they could find alternative housing for herself, Ryan, painter and decorator husband Shaw, and baby Chelsea, only two weeks after they moved in.

Mrs Sweeting's application - and subsequent appeals - have been refused.

A Basildon Council spokesman said: "There is insufficient evidence to warrant a housing move. Naturally, we will monitor the situation."

Published Monday, February 24, 2003

Brought to you by the Evening Echo