A MOTHER has described the nightmare of living in insect infected flats that are so bad she fears letting her baby crawl on the floor.

She moved into Trafford House, Basildon, in March, hoping to be greeted by a clean and safe new home.

The 20-year-old, who did not wish to be named, was shocked to find her flat in the 384-home block was infested with silverfish – a species of small, silvery light grey wingless insects.

The single mother, who pays £1,175 a month for the flat, says she fears letting her six-month-old daughter crawl and play in the flat.

“She’s just learning to crawl, but I can’t put her on the floor as these insects could get into her nose, mouth or ears,” she said.

“How are we are meant to live like this? I pay thousands to live with insects and be kept up nearly every night by extremely loud music and screaming from neighbours.

“The only way to describe living here is like living in hell.”

She says she cannot go to the bathroom in the night without killing a handful of the insects and estimates she kills at least 40+ a day.

“They are in my baby’s draws they are inside her nappies in the draws her clothes in my kitchen cupboards, they are just everywhere,” she said.

She has complained to Criterion, the firm which manages the building, and in response she was sent a list of tips for dealing with silverfish infestations – which are said to be drawn to moisture.

An email sent to her read: “Managing silverfish and firebrats can be challenging but a complete strategy that involves sanitation, de-humidification and natural insecticides can help remove the issue.”

“The whole building is infested with them and ants,” the complainant continued. “They are currently treating the building for ants but cannot treat for silverfish while treating ants, I have been told.

“It’s absolutely vile and it’s wrong as a human to be made to feel that I have to just live this way and deal with it.

“After I moved in and realised how bad it was I cried for days and days because I could not believe that I had done, I cannot live like this.”

Criterion has been contacted for comment.