After three years of misery, a family is hoping to celebrate Christmas back in their own home.

The Larkens, from Marden, have been living in caravans after their farmhouse was seriously damaged in a severe storm.

Water came pouring into the property when part of the roof came away in December 2013.

What followed was a lengthy battle with their insurers, Nationwide, to get repairs carried out, forcing the family-of-four to eventually relocate to mobile homes.

Mum Tina claims it has been a catalogue of errors starting on the day of the storm, which left her house open to the elements for a year.

She said: “We called them and they didn’t turn up. We continued to call them – in the end the aerial smashed through the roof and poured with water.”

No one was available to come out to assess the damage on the day, due to significant flooding at other properties in the area.

"We are missing out on life, I am tired of fighting – I cannot get these three years back" - Tina Larken

Drying equipment was later sent out, but that failed because of problems with the electrics.

Finally in 2015, a loss adjustor and surveyor visited, but the roof had been left uncovered for a year, damaging the contents.

Countless letters and phone calls followed and at one point Mrs Larken pitched up at the building society’s Maidstone branch and refused to leave until the roof was fixed.

In the end Mrs Larken, 55, and husband Paul, 56, said they had no choice but to take the insurer to the financial ombudsman.

They won the case, and the insurer paid the claim, but no compensation has yet been offered.

The family appointed their own builders who have promised them they can finally enjoy Christmas back in their refurbished home in Summerhill Road.

Mrs Larken said: “We love our home. We love our neighbours – but it is not about bricks and mortar, it’s the impact it’s had on my family. I have a really bad skin condition due to the stress and am on medication for depression. We are missing out on life, I am tired of fighting – I cannot get these three years back.”

"I would like an apology. I have had an appalling service and they have shown no compassion.”

Nationwide has not responded to a request for a comment.