HEART-BROKEN mum Crystal Brennan is grieving the death of her 11-week-old son, from the cramped spare room of her parents' house.

Crystal, her partner Steve Higgins and their two daughters Jodie, six, and four-year-old Carla, moved out of their flat in Mildenhall Way, Penhill, after baby Lewis died in his sleep on February 2.

Doctors could only attribute healthy Lewis's death to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, otherwise known as cot death.

Now the devastated parents cannot bear to face the home where their little boy died last month.

So the family of four is sharing a single room.

Describing the moment she discovered Lewis' lifeless body, Crystal said: "I knew he was dead right away. Even when Steve was still calling the ambulance I knew.

"It feels like someone had taken my heart away. I waited for so long for him and now he's gone.

"I had a normal birth and everything was fine.

"It is not knowing how it happened that it the worst thing - there was nothing, no reason at all.

"Every day is a struggle and the last thing I want to do is go back there.

"I can't go near the flat, never mind face going back in his room.

"I find it hard to sleep now as it is, never mind if I had to go back there to sleep.

"We just want to try and build our lives back to some sort of normality."

The family is currently sleeping in Crystal's brother Luke's room at her parents' house in Pinehurst.

Although Crystal said the support of her parents Christine and Michael was a comfort, the family are desperate to rebuild their lives.

But they say they have been told by Swindon Council they will have to wait for a new home.

"I never wanted to live in that flat, but I was there six years. I was verbally abused, had my windows smashed in and even had death threats on my front door," she said.

"But I would go straight back there to have Lewis back.

"I have lost all respect for the council now. I always paid my rent and council tax on time, but I really can't face going back there and we need their help.

"The girls are dealing with it in different ways. Carla talks about Lewis quite a lot. I think she's comforted to think Lewis is up there with her granddad.

"Jodie is more angry. She understands more than Carla about what's happening but it is hard for her to deal with."

A spokeswoman for Swindon Council said: "The council sympathises with the family and will be re-housing them as soon as possible.

"We appreciate the urgency of their needs and for this reason they are in the top priority band of applicants in the choice-based lettings system, which all prospective or current tenants use to register interest in council properties.

"The council is liaising closely with the family and will be in touch as soon as a suitable property becomes available.

"Unfortunately, because of the huge demand for council accommodation, there are no empty homes available immediately."