A SOUTHEND woman is “at her wits end” over a seven-year-long mice infestation in her home.

Christy Walshe, 40, of Sutton Road, Southend, said the rodent takeover is having a detrimental effect on her and her 18-year-old daughter’s health.

Ms Walshe, who is bi-polar, claims property owners South Essex Homes sent an exterminator when the mice first made an appearance shortly after she moved in.

This kept the small creatures at bay, however, they soon returned after a year and have been causing a nuisance ever since.

Miss Walshe further claimed she had been refused help from SEH and was told her tenancy agreement states any pest infestation is not covered by them unless the problem exists in communal areas.

The mother-of-one believes this rule wasn’t always in place and SEH changed their policy after they sent an exterminator.

SEH strongly deny this is the case and state this rule has always been part of their tenancy agreements and it is her responsibility.

Last month, SEH arranged for a pest control contractor to come to Miss Walshe’s property to assess how she was living and to determine whether Miss Walshe was responsible for attracting the mice to her flat. They confirmed this was not the case.

She said the mice are leaving hundreds of droppings in every room of Miss Walshe’s property as well as causing a large amount of damage to the home and her possessions.

Ms Walshe said: “We can’t buy fresh groceries - they eat everything.

“They’ve destroyed so much of what we own, we’ve had to throw most of our things away - clothes, books, sentimental cards.

“They’re everywhere - in our clothes draws, cupboards, wardrobes, everywhere. They nest in the walls where the pipes run. For every couple we catch, there are at least ten more in the walls.

“It’s a living nightmare and is affecting my mental health horrifically. We are at our wits end and do not know where to turn anymore.”

Miss Walshe said she is not in a position financially to pay out for an exterminator.

A spokesman from SEH said: “The tenancy officer has visited the building and made enquiries with other residents of the block, however none of them have reported problems with mice. The officer will be returning to the property along with a surveyor to try and establish the point at which mice are entering the flat.

“If it is decided the tenant is liable to pay for the pest control works, in accordance with the conditions of tenancy, then we will offer the option for South Essex Homes to organise this work on her behalf and then ‘re-charge’ her – which means that she can pay for the cost of these works in instalments.”