A FAMILY claim they are being forced to sleep in their car after being driven out of their home by vandals.

So far Jacqui Alden, two of her five children, her friend Gary Kilford and the family dog Ikea have spent two nights in their red Volkswagen Polo after leaving their home following a spate of attacks on their Aldermoor council house.

The family had to gather what they could carry from the house where they have lived for seven weeks after claiming that the attacks and threats to their own safety had forced them to leave.

They say they have been offered little help from the housing department of Southampton City Council and have been left with no choice but to sleep in the car.

Ms Alden, 36, said: "We were told by the police it wasn't safe for us to stay after the problems we had over the weekend. I didn't know what else to do and certainly didn't have anywhere else to go so I put my three youngest children with their father and spent the night in the car with the other two and Gary.

"When I went to the housing office the following day I was told I could go into bed and breakfast accommodation but that I would have to pay for it which I can't afford. On top of that I heard the place they wanted to send me was filthy and I couldn't let my kids live like that. Why should we suffer?"

City Council bosses say they are seeking an urgent transfer for the family. They have offered the Aldens temporary bed and breakfast accommodation which would be provided for free, but the family would be expected to pay additional costs such as food.

The Aldens moved to the home on Holly Oak Road in August from New Milton under a council house swap deal.

They claim that since then they have been harassed and bullied by some families in the area who have damaged windows and vandalised their car, leaving them with no option but to move out.

Officials at Southampton City Council say they are aware of the problem but maintain that options have been made available to the family.

A spokesman said: "We are actively looking for an urgent transfer for the family, and in the meantime have offered them emergency bed and breakfast accommodation. The council will pay the full cost of this emergency temporary accommodation. We would however expect the Aldens to pay any reasonable costs, for example for the breakfasts they receive.

"We are liaising with the police regarding the harassment that the family say they have suffered and will be taking action against the perpetrators."