A Dover woman has been left distraught after her belongings were ruined by a four-year damp problem that has slowly eaten away at her house.

Sarah Butler, 46, of Khartoum Square in Whitfield, says she has to store her clothes in bin liners to protect them and has had her furniture, carpets and walls smothered in mould.

Miss Butler, who suffers from anxiety, says the added stress has meant she has only left her house three times in six months.

The former chef says she has contacted her housing association, Town and Country Housing Group (TCHG), on various occasions but nothing has been done.

A spokesman for TCHG said: “Our neighbourhood housing manager and our repairs contractor have visited Miss Butler’s on more than one occasion.

“We have carried out work on her home and also explained that there are some things that she needs to do to help prevent mould.

“Miss Butler needs to ventilate her home and help prevent condensation building up as this is one of the causes of mould.”

The mother-of-two says she is struggling after her son, Robert, was run over by a taxi in December 2012 and is now suffering from severe brain damage.

She said: “He nearly died, he is not very well and never will be ever again.”

The mother-of-two wants her son back at home with her but this is not possible as he cannot interact, walk or eat by himself.

Miss Butler and her partner Kai Maxted said they made concerted efforts to do up their house before the accident and now they have lost interest in everything.

Miss Butler sobbed: “This house was beautiful. We built our home together.

"This house was beautiful. We built our home together." - Sarah Butler

"It was something we wanted and I was planning on getting back into work.”

She said the growing mould has caused a rift in her relationship with Mr Maxted.

“We love each other to bits,” she added. “But this is causing upset and arguments.”

The TCHG spokesman said: “When we visited Miss Butler’s home last month, on a warm, sunny day on June 12, we noticed that she didn’t have any windows or vents open.

“We have explained how essential this is and how it will help to keep her home mould free.”

Miss Butler, who receives disability benefit, would like to be allocated a smaller flat because of the expense of the bedroom tax, but feels that until the damp problem is resolved no one will want to trade places.

The housing association said work does need to be carried out on the home, including repointing a wall and making sure it is weatherproof.

It concluded: “There is further work planned, this being installing fibre glass to prevent cold spots and additional insulation for the loft.”