Miserable Christmas for single mum and daughter

Laura Wilkinson and daughter Molly lost everything including presents, battery operated toys, dolls, a keyboard, a television and DVD combi, car seat, buggy, pram, two televisions, and a sky box, when the house flooded just days after Christmas.

Laura was able to salvage just a few baby photos and clothes from the ruins.

She had previously been forced to move into her parents' house on December 21 after being left with no heating or water during the big freeze when the pipes in her house were frozen.

She contacted the agents for the property who arranged a plumber. However, he told her that because the pipes were frozen he could not do anything, except lag some pipes, until the water thawed.

Laura, who had moved into the private rented house just four weeks ago, checked it daily but on the Monday after Christmas discovered that the ceiling had collapsed and the contents of her house were in ruins.

Laura said: "During the bad weather I had a lot of trouble with my boiler and pipes and had to go to my parents so my daughter and I could enjoy Christmas there. The pipes were frozen so we had no heating or water.

"I only moved into the house four weeks ago so I have no house insurance and have lost everything."

"My brother had to give up his bed for me and my daughter when I was staying at my mother's," she said. "I had nowhere else to go. It was not ideal because he was home with his pregnant girlfriend and they had to lie on the sofa.

"I was checking on the house every day and when I went in on Monday the roof had collapsed and the whole house was flooded. I was told by the agents I should have put the electric fire on to thaw the pipes but the pipes everywhere were frozen.

"I was only able to salvage a few baby photos and some of my child's teddies - thankfully a lot of her toys were at my mum's."

Laura contacted the Housing Executive who have given her a temporary house on the Low Road.

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