TWO CHILDREN were left “sobbing their hearts out” after the council took away their brand new bikes.

Single mother Davinia Chalkley bought her children Alfie and Ellie the new bikes for their birthday and early Christmas presents a few weeks ago.

But on Friday (October 7) the seven and nine-year-olds came home from school to find Redbridge Council had confiscated them.

Ms Chalkley, of Torrington Road, South Woodford, said: “On Monday I got a visit from a housing officer to say there had been a complaint about my children’s bikes being outside our door.

“The council say they are causing a fire hazard.

“But there are all sorts of things blocking fire escapes in the flats next door and they don’t get any trouble at all.

“Instead I have my children crying their little hearts out because they’ve lost their new bikes.

“They gave me no prior warning. This is harassment and victimisation.”

The 33-year-old mum claims she had permission to leave the bikes outside her flat after mystery vandals left Alfie and Ellie’s toys “chucked in the bushes” and “thrown in the bin”.

She said: “Over the summer someone chucked Alfie’s scooter over a six-foot fence into the brambles.

“It was scratched and the handle bars were damaged. He was so upset.

“We put the bikes outside the flat so they were safe while the council said it was applying to get a bike rack put in.

“They knew what the situation was and yet they still think they can take my children’s things without any notice.

“They clearly have no heart at all – Alfie and Ellie are distraught.”

When the same thing happened three years ago, the council apologised for the “upset” but said it was simply acting on the fire brigade’s safety concerns.

This time, however, Ms Chalkley is threatening to go to the ombudsman and says consistent false claims about her and children are affecting her health.

She said: “I am trying my absolute hardest as a single mum to provide for my kids and make sure, just because they don’t have their dad, they don’t miss out on anything.

“But the council is making that impossible by victimising us like this.

“It’s stressing me out so much.”

Ms Chalkley has to pay £20 to get the bikes she spent £165 on back.

She also claims her children will be left without them until she gets an invoice saying she can collect them.

A Redbridge Council spokesman said: "To comply with fire safety regulations, we have to ensure that the communal areas of our blocks are free from combustible materials and potential obstructions at all times to provide a safe exit for residents and access for the emergency services in the event of a serious incident. 

"All residents have been written to, to inform them that any items or personal possessions will be removed from communal areas.

"As part of the resident's tenancy there is a lockable shed adjacent to the block which is available to store items."

The spokesman did not comment on the other objects left in blocks adjacent to Ms Chalkley's home.