A single mother-of-five whose home is infested with cockroaches has slammed her housing association for “ignoring” the plight of her young family. 

Christina Hilditch said she felt “completely numb” when she was greeted by the pests as she moved into the three-bedroom house in Walnut Road, Leyton last July. 

The 26-year-old said things reached a tipping point when she walked in on her two-year-old daughter Azaelia holding a cockroach in her hand.

Ms Hilditch who is also mum to Nevaeh, 12 weeks, four-year-old twins Tianna and Aryianna and Kamirah, eight, said: “I was coming downstairs one day and heard my twins screaming.

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“My two-year-old had a cockroach in her hand.

“My stomach was churning. She didn’t know what it was as she hasn’t seen bugs before.

“She could have put it in her mouth if she thought it was a sweet. It’s a massive concern for me and is playing on my mind.

“I can’t relax and have to watch her like a hawk now.”

Ms Hilditch moved to the property from her former home in Billet Road, Walthamtow because she wanted a private garden and more space.

But as soon as she walked through the door she regretted her decision and says she felt “traumatised” by the sight of mouldy walls, leaking pipes and giant spiders roaming around.

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The property which is run by Peabody housing association had passed a health and safety inspection just days before the move was finalised.

“I’m at my wits’ end and I can’t take any more of it,” she said.

 “I hear water leaking through the walls where my baby sleeps in her cot. I’m afraid the ceiling is going to come in on her.

“I have a phobia of spiders and I have been up at 4.30am screaming trying to get them out of my kids’ bedrooms.

“It’s affecting Kamirah’s sleep and she is tired in school. She doesn’t want to wear any of her clothes because she thinks the spiders and cockroaches have been near them.”

To add to her stress, Ms Hilditch fears the mouldy floorboards and walls will affect the health of Tianna, who suffers from bronchitis and recently spent time in intensive care.

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The single mother, who plans on studying for a business degree at university, says she is not looking for special treatment, just to be taken seriously.

She added: “My kids will always come first in everything that I do.

“I have a young vulnerable family with four kids under five and I don’t want to be seen as just a number.

“I am disappointed with Peabody and the situation is making me depressed.”

Peabody has been contacted for a comment.