A FAMILY have been left fearing for their health after a neighbour’s cockroach infested flat spread to their home even though they reported it to authorities.

Whitnie Drewett lives with her partner and two children child and six-month-old baby in a tower block on Milverton Court, Park South.

Her family now live in fear of the insects due to Environmental Health and Swindon Borough Council refusing to fumigate the premises, she claims.

The 24-year-old has even had to move her daughter to sleep in their bedroom because they noticed that the bugs had got into her room.

The couple have found 10 cockroaches in their home in the past three days and they have spent £50 on trying to get rid of them.

She also enquired into having her own flat fumigated which would cost £200 but said it would be pointless until the other premises was cleared.

Whitnie said: “I constantly feel on edge all the time, I don’t want to be here, and I feel like a prisoner in my own home.

“This is no way for anybody to live, I have been on the phone to the council and environmental health and they have told me that it is not in the tenancy agreement for them to get rid of the infestation.

“We pay our rent to the council and they are doing nothing to ensure we are safe in our home.”

The flat opposite her in the block is empty but the council is looking to move a tenant in.

Whitnie added: “I won’t let others risk their health or be tricked into moving in to this place without having it fumigated.”

Other neighbours have seen their homes become infested with the bugs with one woman claiming they had got into her food storage cupboard – which she has now had to throw away.

A Swindon Borough Council spokesman said: “We were sorry to hear about the tenant’s problems with cockroaches and we certainly sympathise.

“Pest control experts met officers today to do an assessment and arrange treatment where appropriate.

“Three flats in the tower block have signs of infestation and we are monitoring the remaining nine to see if there are any signs of cockroaches in the floors above and below. Treatment, where required, will be promptly provided.”