Friends of the family of five-year-old blaze victim Courtney Bristow today revealed her grieving mother and siblings have nowhere to live.
Grieving - Stacey Bristow with daughters Emily and Lola. Picture: ROB SAMBROOK (46221-3)
Colchester Council, which placed her in a chalet, said it had no home for her, according to colleagues.
Courtney died when fire took hold in the chalet at Silverwoods, Thorrington, on November 8. Her mother Stacey, 22, and sisters Emily, three, and Lola, two, managed to escape.
Family friend Pauline Dempster said: "The thing she wants more than anything in the world at the moment is to be on her own with her daughters in their own space to think about Courtney and what has happened.
"She wants somewhere where she can rebuild her life with no outside influences."
The day after the tragedy Stacey plucked up the courage to go to the council offices in High Street to get somewhere for her and her remaining daughters to live.
But she was turned away.
"It took a lot for her to go and see the council and it is absolutely appalling that they have not given her a place to get away from it all," said Mrs Demptser.
Peter McDonagh, Colchester Council homelessness team leader, said: "We are trying to find them somewhere to live until other matters are resolved."
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Monday, November 14, 2005
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