DESPERATE Vale families are hitting out at Wychavon's housing officers who leave them in bed and breakfast accommodation for months.

Young children are living in pubs with their parents, costing taxpayers about twice as much as if they were in private rented homes, but because of council rules they cannot choose.

Michelle Marsh is staying at the Crown Inn, Waterside, with her eight-year-old daughter Peggy - costing the council nearly £300 a week.

She said: "That's more than £1,000 a month and would pay for the rent of a good family house in the private sector. It's a dreadful life in bed and breakfast accommodation. There's no normal facilities like a fridge a cooker or washing machine - it's totally unsuitable for children."

Thirty-seven-year old Miss Marsh arrived in the Vale in January from London to be near other family members after the break up of her relationship. She is unable to rent anywhere privately without help because she cannot afford a deposit, which would run into hundreds of pounds.

Another family, Lisa and Simon Hunt, and their two young children were until very recently in the same plight. Mrs Hunt said: "Thankfully we were only at The Crown for six weeks and then we were found a house in The Rynal in Evesham, but we were upset at the way we were treated. We were fobbed off for weeks."

Wychavon District Council previously ran a scheme where homeless people could take out a loan for a deposit on a home, but it was dropped several years ago.

Miss Marsh said: "What is upsetting is the huge cost to taxpayers keeping us in bed and breakfast accommodation. I think they would be appalled to know the amount of money being wasted."

Wychavon District Council's newly appointed revenues manager Kath Smith said that there were currently 13 families with children living in bed and breakfast places around the district. She said: "There are also more priority cases such as over 60's and ex prisoners in the same type of accommodation. Obviously we have to wait until a suitable home comes up before we can allocate it."

Ms Smith, who took over from the previous housing manager this week, said her department would be reviewing the homeless situation in the near future. She added: "I sympathise with the families concerned and will be re-looking at the possibility of loans for deposits, but ultimately it is the councillors who make the decisions." She said at any one time there are about 2.500 people on the housing waiting list.