Through your pages I would like to say a huge thank you to the emergency services, ie the fire brigade and police who attended the arson attack on the flat below my daughters on Tuesday night.

Their professionalism and compassion was much appreciated. As was the attention she received the following morning when she explained her circumstances to the local DSS department.

This caring attitude is not mirrored however by Swindon Borough Council's housing department.

Knowing the situation my daughter and granddaughters would be living in, put more importance on filling a vacant property and thereby collecting rent than on their health, wellbeing and safety.

Despite knowing the risks, after all it is their workmen who wear masks and protective clothing when attending the property, they were more than happy to give an unsuspecting single mother the keys to a much longed for first home and who knowing the reasons for and extent of the damage caused are insisting that she and her traumatised young daughters are safe to return to the property and refuse to consider offering her alternative accommodation.

Shame on them.

A Dimino

Hillview

Elkstone

Cheltenham