BASINGSTOKE MP Andrew Hunter has stepped in to help a Basingstoke mother and her five children who fear they will be homeless this Christmas.

Diane Hamill was evicted by her landlord from her rented flat in Quilter Road, Brighton Hill, on November 19.

Basingstoke council has temporarily rehomed the family in Slough. However, the arrangement is only for a month.

"They say that we are deliberately homeless and, therefore, are only obligated to find us somewhere to live for 28 days, " said Mrs Hamill.

"The distance (to Slough) means I have had to give up my job in Basingstoke, and my children cannot get to their schools. Two of them were supposed to be sitting GCSEs this week."

Mrs Hamill contacted her MP, Andrew Hunter, who told The Gazette: "I am very worried about this family being sent to Slough. It is most undesirable - I continually meet people whose lives have been interrupted by homelessness, and it is particularly unfortunate when there are jobs and children's schooling at stake.

"I don't understand why Basingstoke council's housing strategy hasn't been able to cope with this. I have experienced this problem many times over the 18 years that I have been in Basingstoke."

Mr Hunter hopes the council will review this case: "There is sometimes a grey area of interpretation when it comes to deciding whether a person is deliberately homeless," he said.

"All I can do is plead with the council to look at her circumstances as compassionately as possible."

A council spokesman said Mrs Hamill and her family were intentionally homeless because she failed to pay the full rent on her former property.

Mrs Hamill remains on the council's housing needs register. As a result, the council will continue to look for suitable, long-term accommodation.

However, once the 28 days in Slough expire later this month, Mrs Hamill will have to make her own arrangements if nothing has been found.

"My kids are entitled to a stable family home and the right to proper schooling," said Mrs Hamill. "I have done all the council have asked, but they are trying to wash their hands of us."