A woman brought in a priest after learning the previous tenant in her flat had died.

Lisa Bowden returned to emergency accommodation because she could not stand to live in her new home.

Ms Bowden said she would “rather be dead” than live in the flat in Stone.

The 40-year-old and her nine-year-old son were placed in the accommodation in the borough in March and were put on the bidding list for a Dartford Borough Council-owned property.

The mother-of-four said: “I was told I had to take the property or I’d be making myself intentionally homeless.

“I had no choice but to accept so I tried to have an open mind and stay positive. I even rang family members and friends to help organise to decorate when I signed the tenancy agreement.

“In my culture, as a gypsy, it’s not appropriate and is forbidden for someone to move in when someone has passed away in the property.

“I could smell the death. I organised for a priest to come in to the property with me to bless the flat.

“On the morning of the priest coming, I was with my daughters and the priest entered and as I followed behind him I had flashbacks of my brother who passed away in April.

“I could smell the death. I organised for a priest to come in to the property with me to bless the flat" - Lisa Bowden

“I had a panic and asthma attack and my daughter had to rush me to my doctor.”

Lisa says the council would not offer her another property and her daughter, Lisa-Marie, 24, brought in a counsellor after she became suicidal.

“I am an ex-heroin addict and opposite the property were heroin addicts.

“On arrival with the priest, there was a male in the communal area outside my door smoking cannabis which I found unacceptable for both me and my son.

“I feel I have been very mistreated and feel disgusted and disheartened by this ordeal.

“Why would they put me in this situation?”

She now plans to take legal action against the council.

Dartford Borough Council had not commented at the time of going to press.