A MUM from Highbridge says she has been living in “unbearable” conditions following a fire in her rented flat.

The flat in Church Street, where Tracy Prowton lives with her 15-yearold son, Jordan, was damaged by an electrical fire on Boxing Day.

Since then Ms Prowton says she has had to sleep on the sofa due to the damage and smell of smoke in her bedroom despite repeated assurances from Mayfair Letting Agents that her home would be redecorated as quickly as possible.

Speaking to the Weekly News, Ms Prowton said: “It’s been unbearable, it really has.

"It’s been more than four weeks and the agents keep saying they’ll get the place redecorated as quick as they can but nothing has happened yet.

“They’ve cleaned the soot up but the place is still a mess. I’ve just been so emotional – sometimes I haven’t been able to go into work.”

Fire crews were called to the flat at lunchtime on Boxing Day after a neighbour noticed smoke coming from the property. After forcing entry, crews discovered a fire in the shower unit in the en-suite bathroom, causing damage to the bathroom and bedroom.

Ms Prowton, who was staying at a friend’s at the time, says the incident has left her home uninhabitable. She said: “The bedroom and the bathroom need redecorating to get rid of the smell.

“They’ve replaced the door but it’s still not right. “I can’t use my bathroom – the shower doesn’t work and when the fan goes on it just blows more soot all over the place.”

Ms Prowton says the ordeal has forced her to find somewhere else to live.

A spokesperson for Mayfair Lettings, based in Weston, said: “We have done everything we can for the tenant.

“In our opinion there is nothing preventing the tenant from sleeping in the bedroom or living at the property.

“We made sure the property was safe and the tenant has other wash and toilet facilities at the flat.

“We have not had a request from the tenant for other temporary accommodation. If we had we may have been able to find her something.

“We have also just received the go ahead from the landlord to proceed with one of the quotes to repair the damage.”