A single mother living in a flat “riddled with mould” says the poor living conditions are causing her family’s health to suffer.

Dionne Harvey of Hale End Road, Woodford believes sleeping in a damp room has caused her four-year-old son’s asthma to worsen and has also contributed to her mental health problems.

The 30-year-old mother-of-two claims black mould started appearing on the walls of her one-bedroom flat just weeks after she moved in in October 2014.

After years of “battling” with Waltham Forest Council to get the issue sorted, Ms Harvey said in January it all became too much for her to handle and she had a nervous breakdown.

She said: “I was sitting in my car outside my flat with my daughter and I couldn’t breathe and was in tears.

“I called my doctor and said I couldn’t do this anymore. I had too much to deal with to keep my house running and my two kids.

“I was taken to hospital by ambulance and kept in overnight.

“Both of my children have asthma and my son’s had a cough for three months.

“The place is riddled with mould and I’m dumbfounded at how long it has taken to sort it out.”

The part-time library assistant who is also mum to a two-year-old girl has been unable to return to work since her breakdown.

She was left feeling “fed up” after spending £300 renovating her bathroom only for mould to reappear within months.

Last summer she was diagnosed with depression which came as “shock” but she says she is now determined to pull herself out of the bad situation for the sake of her children.

“It was a kind of shock to my system when I was diagnosed with depression but I had a feeling it was coming,” said Ms Harvey.

“I was really teary but in a way I was relieved that I wasn’t going crazy and these were valid feelings I was having. I was angry and really upset.

“I just don’t understand why I have to fight so hard for things to get done.

“Although I broke down, I am now pulling myself up and trying to sort this out for my children.”

Ms Harvey claims a surveyor sent by the council to assess the mould told her it was caused by condensation and a lack of ventilation.

She dismissed this and says it is due to “underlying issues” with the property’s construction.

A spokesman for Waltham Forest Council said: “Following the surveyor’s visit, an appointment with our contractors Osborne was arranged for Friday 13 April.

“This appointment was cancelled at the request of the resident. Osborne have attempted to rearrange this appointment but have not been able to gain access to the property.

“We will continue to seek to contact our resident so that this situation can be resolved.”