THOUSANDS of Swindon residents are living in homes that are are unfit for human habitation.

A survey of the town's housing stock placed 2,500 homes in that category.

A further 3,600 out of the total 70,000 are in serious disrepair.

And nearly 15,000 properties have failed the Government's Decent Homes Standard.

The survey follows a report last month by housing charity Shelter that claims 5,000 children are living in sub-standard housing in Swindon.

Shelter has launched a national campaign to expose what it says is a hidden housing crisis with more than a million British children growing up in overcrowded, unfit or emergency housing.

This often leads to serious health problems, poor education and blighted futures.

Swindon Council said it had a good record compared with many towns and cities.

But although none of the council's properties were judged to be unfit for habitation, 2,128 still failed the Government's Decent Homes Standard.

This includes standards for heating, insulation, modern facilities and general conditions.

Housing investment manager Gerry O'Connor said the authority was on target for all of its 10,940 homes to meet the standard by 2008 two years ahead of the deadline.

It has also established its own Swindon Standard, which will see all its houses fitted with smoke detectors, low energy lighting systems and extra insulation by 2016.

The council says private landlords are responsible for the worst housing in the town.

Paul Simmonds, acting group leader for health and environment at Swindon Council, said: "Although Swindon is an affluent place with better than average housing, there are places, particularly in the private rented sector of the housing market, where some of the poorest conditions are found.

"Swindon is working with landlords to try to improve those standards and offering help to owner occupiers who are most vulnerable."

Mr Simmonds admitted there was more to do to address the problem of poor housing.

"There are still a significant number of people who live in unfit housing and they shouldn't have to.

"There shouldn't be any unfit housing in this country."

Andy Tate