The father of a woman who was assigned a council flat more than 150 miles away from home said he is “ashamed to be British” because of the “lack of support” out there for single mothers.

Shane Luxford of Drapers Road, Leyton is “worried sick” about his daughter and her two young children living in Telford because they have been deemed “vulnerable and at immediate risk” by social services.

Leah, who lives in a bedsit in Welwyn Garden City, is a victim of domestic violence and requested Waltham Forest Council move her closer to her family in east London and Essex.

But the 21-year-old who is mum to Rudy, three, and Calli, three weeks, was offered a room in the Shropshire town and told if she refused, she would be making herself homeless.

“It terrifies me,” said Mr Luxford, a 44-year-old father-of-six.

“My grand-daughter is just three weeks old. If anything happens to them up in Birmingham it will take me hours to get there.

“I am worried sick about it and I feel the council is ignoring us. I think it is disgusting.

“There’s no help at all and it makes me ashamed to have been born here. I am ashamed to be British.

“They should make an exception because of what she has been through and what the children have been through.”

Leah wants to be housed somewhere between her father in Waltham Forest and her mother who lives in Maldon, Essex so they can help her out on a day-to-day basis.

After she told the council she could not make it to their offices because she couldn’t afford the £35 train fare, they rang on Tuesday to make the housing offer.

The young mother has criticised the council for handling her case in a “ridiculous” way and says she now has “no hope” they will offer her something better.

“I burst into tears,” she said.

“When I told them I can’t go there they said I would be making myself homeless. It is unfair. I feel let down by the council.”

Leah said the property in Telford “is not going to work” for her toddler and newborn and wants a two-bedroom flat instead.

She added: “It’s a bedroom in a shared property with working professionals, not for council tenants.

“I have two children and they told me this was suitable for them. I can’t physically contain my three-year-old in this place.

“How am I supposed to share a kitchen with these people when I have to look after a three-week-old and a toddler as I’m cooking?”

Mr Luxford, who is also a council tenant, said he would offer his daughter a space in his home but he was told this would be in breach of his housing contract.

A spokesman for Waltham Forest Council said:  “We would always try and house anyone needing temporary accommodation in the borough – however, this may not always be possible.

“We have worked closely with Ms Luxford to find a suitable place for her to stay and to assist her in the move, including paying for vehicle hire.”