A woman living in a cramped bedsit with her daughter fears she will have to wait months before she is found a permanent home because a council worker is off sick.

Michaela Peasgood and her ten-year-old daughter Desnee were made homeless in May because of family problems.

They were moved into the bedsit in Burlington Street, Kemp Town by Brighton and Hove City Council and told they would have to wait three to four months for a council flat.

When the housing officer dealing with her case went on sick leave, Ms Peasgood didn't think it would have an effect on her.

However, she was assigned a new officer and told she would have to start the process again - with a further wait of up to four months.

When Ms Peasgood telephoned the council to talk to the new officer she was told the woman was on holiday.

Ms Peasgood, 28, said: "I can't believe I have to go back to the start and wait all this time again because someone was off sick.

"They just don't seem to care about the lives of the people they're dealing with.

"I'm desperate to move. My daughter and I are in just one room. We share a kitchen with other people in the house but it's such a mess I have to scrub it every time I want to cook.

"After a day at work sometimes I just can't face it."

Ms Peasgood says she hardly sleeps at night because she feels the road she's on is so dangerous.

She said: "I don't get to sleep because I'm so scared. The police are called out all the time. Sleep or no sleep, I have to get my daughter up and go to work."

A spokeswoman for Brighton and Hove City Council confirmed the officer dealing with Ms Peasgood's case had been on sick leave, which meant transferring to a new officer and starting the housing process again.

She said: "We apologise for the inconvenience. The homeless team is under severe pressure, which is particularly acute due to staff sickness and the summer holidays.

"But the officers continue to do all they can.

"A homeless officer has made an appointment to see Ms Peasgood in the next few days. I can't say how long it will take but we will work as quickly as possible to see her and her daughter housed."