A family with autistic twin teenagers say they feel “broken” after being left in a single room at a temporary bed and breakfast for the past nine months.

Stephen Aldridge, 53, and his partner Joanne Woodman, 54, applied for a council house after being given 28 days’ notice to get out of their caravan in New Romney in May last year, after the caravan park ownership changed hands.

They were given an estimated six week waiting time for a council house but say they have since been left “squashed” in a single room in Wellesley Road, in Ashford town centre, without access to a proper kitchen or bathroom.

Mr Aldridge said: “We were meant to have a decision within weeks but didn’t hear anything until last November.

“The council has failed to house us and they are now saying that they still need to investigate our circumstances.

“We are all squashed in a room, it has a double bed and a set of bunk beds, and there are only a couple of microwaves for cooking.

“Jo is really depressed with high blood pressure and I’m really struggling with the boys.”

Mr Aldridge says a report by social services and child psychologists has recommended that the family should remain together and not be split apart.

After being told to leave the caravan in New Romney, Ms Woodman lost her job as a caravan cleaner at the park while Mr Aldridge says he was also forced to give up his job as a satellite television installer.

Mr Aldridge added: “We’ve never claimed anything in benefits before, not even housing benefit, so we’re here in a bed and breakfast, which is a complete waste of taxpayers’ money. If you booked it for a family for £75 per night, you wouldn’t pay it.

“It feels like we are banging our heads against a brick wall. We can’t describe how we are feeling. We are a decent family but we are absolutely broken, it has ruined our lives.”

Shepway District Council spokesman Helen Colegate said the family first asked for housing in May last year, and then after initial investigations the authority decided not to offer housing in November.

"We are a decent family but we are absolutely broken, it has ruined our lives" - Stephen Aldridge

The council has since overturned its decision and says Mr Aldridge was offered temporary accommodation within the district, but the council says the offer was turned down by Mr Aldridge because he now wishes to live in Ashford.

Ms Colegate said: “We are currently trying to secure further self-contained temporary housing in Ashford.

“We aim to move homeless families from bed and breakfasts to more suitable accommodation as soon as we can, although this is dependent on the circumstances of each case.”

According to the homeless charity Shelter, bed and breakfast accommodation is normally suitable for those who are homeless, unless they have children.

On its website the charity states: "Families with children can only be housed in a bed and breakfast in an emergency and usually only for a maximum of six weeks. After that, the council is legally required to find you somewhere more suitable to live."