A LAUNCESTON resident has been left with buckets on standby in her home after a hole in her roof has meant water is entering her children's bedroom when it rains.

Mel Smith lives in Ridgegrove and has had problems with her roof for around two years. Mel explained to the 'Post' that the problem with the roof first occurred in December 2008 when a person from Cornwall Council (formerly Cornwall County Council) went out and 'patched up' the roof. "They said the problem wasn't that bad," Mel said.

Around a year later, in December 2009, Mel noticed that the wind kept blowing from the roof and lifting up the attic roof hatch. Each night she would have to go up there and shut the hatch from the room to the attic.

Mel was told that a member of the council would visit her, but failing to do this, she recontacted the council in January and received a visit around February time. According to Mel, the council representative said the issue had become "drastic" as daylight could be seen through the roof. Once again, the hole was patched up.

However, on Tuesday, June 1, Mel was awoken by a thud, only to find that her daughter had slipped on a puddle that was beside her bed as water had entered the bedroom from the ceiling.

Mel contacted the council, this time as an emergency and the following day (Wednesday, June 2) someone from the council visited the home. They told Mel that the 'children were safe to sleep in their beds as the ceiling wouldn't fall on their heads.'

Mel told the 'Post' that she has complained to the council that the house has been damp for years. However, she was told the problem wasn't what she thought was damp, but was in fact condensation, as she had too many children (four) in one room. But, Mel said: "I definitely think it is because of the damp."

She added: "I've got buckets on standby for the six patches in the bedroom where water comes in."

The council told Mel they would contact her by the end of last week (Friday, June 4) but she was still waiting for a reply.

In a statement to the 'Post', Cornwall Council said they are aware of the problem and are contacting their contractor to address the situation.