There is so much damp in Gemma Waterfield's city council-owned flat, she has had to move her 11-month-old son out of his bedroom after finding mould on his mattress.

The 27-year-old and her son, Harley, moved into the flat in Golding Place in June, when she redecorated every room, bought new furniture and had new carpets laid.

But now the whole property apart from the living room has mould on the walls, or the ceiling, and the floors are soaked under the carpets.

Miss Waterfield has had to throw away two wardrobes she bought last year because they were ruined by mould.

'Harley has got asthma and he keeps getting colds,' she said.

'I told the doctors about the damp and they asked if I had considered renting.

'I did Harley's room up for him and now he's sleeping in bed with me because the damp is so bad in there. I only realised the mould had got into the mattress when I changed his sheets.'

Miss Waterfield said she first contacted Norwich City Council about the damp problem in February and although damp surveyors have been out and the bathroom has been replastered, nothing has so far been done to stop the cause of the problem.

'I had a plumber come out but they said it wasn't caused by a leak – it was rising damp,' she said.

'I like this place – I spent loads of money decorating it when I moved in and now everything is wrecked.'

A spokesman for Norwich City Council said: 'We are aware of the tenant's concerns and have been working with our contractors to find out what's causing the condensation and mould.

'This has included investigations by a plumber to rule out the possibility of a leak, as well as a survey, which showed nothing to indicate a more significant damp problem.

'A follow-up survey has already been arranged for next week, as well as measures to tackle the immediate problem of mould growth.

'We hope all of this will result in a satisfactory outcome for our tenant.'

Miss Waterfield has also taken the case to her local MP, Simon Wright, who said he would be raising it with the city council.

'This has been made the worse because of the impact it is having on her son,' he said.

'There are concerns about the health and wellbeing of the child, which must be causing distress.'

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