A PENHILL mum-of-four fears for her children’s safety as her flat has started collapsing.

Sumer Murray has slept on the living room sofa with her five-week-old son for the past week after her bedroom ceiling collapsed and revealed dangerous amounts of asbestos.

This is just the latest in a series of structural problems which have plagued her home.

Cracks have appeared on several walls and above windows and doors, a hole in the kitchen ceiling has yet to be fixed, and Sumer fears that the house may be subsiding.

She said: “I’m very lucky that we weren’t in the bedroom when the ceiling caved in, we were on the school run.

“My two-year-old sleeps in there with me and it could’ve fallen on him.

“He sleeps in his siblings’ room now but my kids don’t feel safe here, it’s horrible.

“I’ve been to the council about this for years.

“Three years ago, I told them about large cracks and holes in the bedroom, then they plastered over them but the cracks came back.

“In April, I told them about a hole in the kitchen, they put sealer round it but haven’t filled it back in.

“When the ceiling collapsed, I rang and emailed to get it fixed but no-one responded.

“They came out after I put in a complaint because I have young children and there was asbestos in the ceiling.

“They’ve taken half the ceiling away now but I don’t know what’s going to happen next.

“It just keeps getting worse and worse, this is causing a lot of stress and not helping my chronic anxiety.

“It’s not safe, I should be moved somewhere else while this is being repaired."

The council has reassured Sumer that the problem will be fixed asap.

It also suggested that the bedroom ceiling didn't just collapse - it had been pulled down by something.

A spokesperson for Swindon Borough Council said: “We attended the property last weekend and found the ceiling had been pulled down and parts strewn across the garden.

“Our asbestos team went out on Monday to clear the debris and make the ceiling safe.

"We are currently in the process of arranging for the ceiling to be properly fixed and have since been out to seal a hairline crack.

“The safety of our tenants is of paramount importance and we hope to have the property repaired as soon as possible.”