Family of five to be moved from hotel after a month

A mother who has been living in a hotel with her 14-month-old baby for nearly a month after having to leave her rented home may finally have somewhere new to stay.

Victoria Tumosas, also joined by her husband, 11-year-old daughter and 18-year-old son, was moved into a Travelodge off the A14 by Mid Suffolk District Council a month ago.

The 42-year-old had been living in a private rental in Stowmarket, which she said had severe mould, as part of the council's guaranteed rent scheme, but the landlord decided to sell it.

Tumosas had been told her family could have to stay in the hotel for six weeks, but the council said they could now be moved "within days".

"Fingers crossed this week we will be moved, however, it is out of the area and far away from my daughter's school," she said.

"But I have to look at the positives of it and the fact there will be cooking and laundry facilities, and we can live more of a normal life."

Tumosas, who has asthma, Crohn's disease, and fibromyalgia, said she had long tried to get moved out of her home due to mould issues but to no avail.

Within a few hours of her doctor writing a letter, however, she said the council said it would move her to emergency accommodation.

During the three and a half weeks the family has spent in two rooms in the hotel, she said she was left with "absolutely no" way of washing clothes or cooking meals.

She added that there was no fridge and they were relying on food parcels or costly takeaways.

"I can't feed my children and they've seen me crying because I don't know where their next meal is going to come from - it's not a feasible way for a family to live," she said.

"It breaks my heart to say, but I had to send my daughter to school today with not much in her lunchbox and she has not got a clean uniform."

The council told the BBC it appreciated "what a difficult time" it was for the family but was continuing to "do everything within our power to support them".

"We appreciate the challenges of hotel living for a young family, but this was only ever a temporary measure until more suitable accommodation could be allocated," a spokesperson said.

"After three weeks we were able to tell the family that a more suitable unit had been found – providing more privacy and kitchen facilities.

"Our team has been in contact with them in the meantime to discuss any other support they require."

Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.