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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Connor Teale & Ramazani Mwamba

Young couple living in 'mould-infested tent' with two dogs and no hot water

A young couple say they have been forced to live in a mould-infested tent after the council failed to provide them "suitable accommodation".

David Thompson, 30, and Jessica Morris ,18, are currently living, eating and sleeping in a tent at a campsite in Longwood, Huddersfield with with their two dogs, Blaze and Marcel.

The pair who moved to Huddersfield from Cornwall eight months say Kirklees Council has told them that there is nowhere suitable for them because of their pets.

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The couple who both suffer from mental health conditions meaning they are deemed unfit to work, moved to the area to be closer to David's grandmother, who is living in a care home.

Yorkshire Live reports that they have claimed Kirklees Council has so far failed to deliver on its promise to help them find "suitable accommodation".

The couple's tent at Valley View campsite in Longwood has "almost had it", according to David (Submitted)

"We told the council we would be moving up and they told us they would help us find suitable accommodation," David told Yorkshire Live.

"They have since told us there is nowhere suitable for us because we have got the dogs."

David - who lives with ADHD, depression and anxiety - said the couple have recently been forced to spend £300 on a new tent after their first was destroyed by harsh winds.

And he opened up on the daily challenges he and his partner Jessica both face.

"It makes so many things harder," said David. "We don't have a fridge, so we can't keep our food or things like milk for longer than two days.

"We are dealing with rain coming into the tent because it's all ripped - and we also have mould. It's not good for us but we can't do anything else really".

David added the couple also have no access to showers or warm, running water. It means they have to boil their own water whenever they want to wash themselves or clean the dishes.

David, who also has mobility issues, said he remains in dialogue with Kirklees Council about the pair's search for their first home in Huddersfield - but that the process is proving tricky.

"The council don't seem to give us a straight answer; they keep sending us to different people," he claimed.

David and Jessica live in the tent with their two dogs Blaze and Marcel (Submitted)

"It is so stressful. We are not that good with communication because of our anxiety and depression. It just makes you not want to do anything like that."

The 30-year-old added the couple are hoping to attend a house viewing set up by the council on February 28.

Kirklees Council has been approached for comment.

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