A Dover woman in temporary accommodation at the County Hotel has leapt to its defence after another resident branded the place “dirty” and “unsafe”.

Helen Alce has spent six weeks in the hotel with her pregnant daughter and son following separation from her partner.

Mrs Alce, formerly of St Radigunds Road, found herself homeless when she was served an eviction notice as the landlord needed the property vacant by a certain time.

But the care worker has praised the services at the hotel – contrary to a previous Mercury report that saw another resident, Emily Shephard, complain about its hygiene and safety.

Miss Shephard, also a mother of two, was deemed homeless after an eviction notice was served on her Devonshire Road property. She claimed that the landlord couldn’t afford the necessary repairs to a rising damp problem.

She was placed in the County Hotel for a few days before being relocated to the Regency Hotel in Bench Street. Her story has been followed by the Mercury, and Channel 5 has featured her in a documentary believed due to be broadcast later this month.

Mrs Alce said: “I’m a Dover District Council guest with medical problems and two children.

“I have to say in the six weeks I’ve lived there the staff have been fantastic, friendly and helpful. I feel they have been put in a bad light with only one person’s view.

“No one wants to be homeless and move the children out of their routine but unfortunately there is no choice.”

Mrs Alce has a slipped disc in her back and was off sick in December because of the pain.

She said that the hotelier allowed carers up to her room to help with her everyday routine despite it generally not being allowed.

She added: “When I first moved in here I was devastated, but this isn’t the council’s or the hotel’s fault.

'When I first moved in here I was devastated' - Helen Alce

“The council has been completely up front with me – it said its not going to be an easy ride.”

Mrs Alce said she has accepted a property from the council but is unsure when she can move in as work is being done to it,

In response, Miss Shephard said: “Everything has been digitally documented.

“So I don’t need to add to that evidence.”