A single mum with a four-month-old baby says she would rather sleep in a car than the "disgusting" temporary accommodation provided by the council.

Jade Connor and little Michael, both from Herne Bay, are now homeless after she rejected the "mouldy" room provided in Ashford.

Miss Connor and her son were placed in Ashford Central Guest House in Wellesley Road by Canterbury City Council on October 12 - but she walked out within two hours.

She claims it was "not fit for a dog" and has taken pictures showing the extent of the damp, as well as electrical wires coming out of the wall.

The city council says the 25-year-old was warned that if she turned down the room, its duty to provide temporary accommodation would end.

But she told KentOnline: “I was prepared to stay until I found the mould.

“I’ve had health issues before so I’m petrified of what could happen to me or Michael.

“I’d rather sleep in my friend's car than a mouldy flat with my baby.”

The former Herne Bay High pupil suffers from Graves' disease - a condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid, which causes it to become overactive.

This has previously affected her chances of getting pregnant, having had a stillbirth last year as a result of the issue.

Miss Connor says her son "immediately started crying" when they arrived at the room a fortnight ago.

“The first thing I saw was dodgy-looking electrics - then there was the mould," she said.

“I touched the wall and could feel the residue come off the wall from the damp.

“It’s not fit for a dog. It was absolutely disgusting.”

Following her departure, Miss Connor says a housing officer wrote to confirm she would no longer be offered temporary accommodation.

But the mum-of-one says the council should be doing more given her situation - and is upset that she can’t begin to take the next steps in her life.

Miss Connor said: “This offer from the council came out of the blue. I’ve been trying for months to get help with a place to live.

“Then the first place we go to is covered in mould and damp. I feel really let down.

“The thing is, I’d take anywhere in Kent. Location isn’t a problem - but mould is.”

Miss Connor has been unemployed since June last year. She had to leave her job as a care worker as she battled with her health and the loss of a child.

She relies on universal credit and the kindness of friends and family to make ends meet, having been homeless since before Michael was born.

But she says she’s desperate to get back to work and hopes to become a social worker one day.

“I do want to work. I don’t want to have to live through food banks and universal credit,” Miss Connor said.

“And I’d love to be able to take the first steps to become a social worker.

“But I can’t do that when every night I have to wander the streets.”

Miss Connor was fostered when she was 13 - and her former foster family have now taken on baby Michael. But she knows this isn’t a viable option in the long run.

“They’ve really looked after Michael. I’m so thankful to have them,” she said.

“But it’s not fair to leave my child with them all the time. They’ve got young kids living there, and they’re not getting any younger.

“They do their best but I can’t ask them to keep looking after me and Michael.”

The city council says it is working with Miss Connor to try to find a long-term solution to her housing needs.

"Miss Connor raised concerns to us about the condition of the room [at Ashford Central Guest House]," a spokesman said.

"Although it was agreed with her that she would stay and that we would look into these the following morning, she subsequently decided not to stay the night.

"She was aware throughout that if she did not use the room that was found for her, our duty to provide temporary accommodation would end, and this is what has happened.

"We want to be clear that we have not removed Miss Connor from any accommodation.

"We continue to work with her and are looking into suitable long-term options for her housing needs, as well as referring her to other relevant services for further support.”

But Miss Connor says she has "had nothing back" from the council over the past two weeks.

“So as of right now, I’m still homeless and I haven’t received any updates or further help from the council," she said.

“All I want is to be able to get help and give my baby a proper start to life - something we can call home.

“Because right now, there’s no life to live.”

Bosses at Ashford Central Guest House did not respond to KentOnline's requests for comment.