'The floods have destroyed my life'

07:00 - 20-August-2008

A BANKRUPT mother and her 11-year-old daughter face being made homeless as they await bailiffs to repossess their flood-wrecked home.

Jobless Christine Ivory, 46, thought life could not get worse when her former council house in Sandford Close, Bransholme, was deluged by waist-high filthy floodwater.

But since the devastating flood of June 25 last year, which swamped swathes of Hull and the East Riding, the single mother has also lost her job at a care home through depression.

And in a further blow, she also lost her granddaughter Lucy Ivory, who had multiple organ failure and died aged five months.

Now, Ms Ivory has been declared bankrupt after finding it impossible to pay her bills and provide for herself and daughter Celine on benefits.

Having survived in a damp house for 14 months with no outside help, Ms Ivory - who gets just £117 a fortnight in benefits - has been told mortgage lender GE Money will repossess her home after she failed to keep up with payments.

The distraught mum said Hull City Council has not been able to find her and her daughter a suitable replacement home.

Fighting back tears, she said: "The floods destroyed my life. I am waiting for the bailiffs to come knocking at my door."

A council spokesman said: "Ms Ivory was awarded Band 1 priority status on July 11 this year and has been bidding on council properties since this date.

"We will continue to work with Ms Ivory to help her in her search."