A FAMILY of eight stuck in a cramped two-bedroom council flat have hit back at claims they should not have had more children.

Darren Smith and Louise Pettett told their story to The Argus about how their tight living conditions in Storrington Close, Hangleton, is affecting their lives, saying that mould and damp is causing health problems for the entire family.

They are looking to move into a bigger house.

Lorry driver Mr Smith, 42, said a family tragedy is the reason they were left in their current situation.

He said: “Harley and Sydney are my kids from a previous relationship. Their mum died of a long-term illness last April so they moved in.

“Two families have come together as one and the kids have become really close.”

Mr Smith and Miss Pettett have one child together, one-year-old Bobby.

Mr Smith works six days a week and has an income of around £380 after tax per week.

The family receive £290 per week in child tax credits, but do not receive any other form of benefits.

They pay £85 per week rent for their council flat.

Mr Smith says it is a struggle to pay rent and bills while providing for their children, but they “have to”.

He said: “We always put the kids first. It’s so important for them to have their own space because some of them need their own rooms.

“We want to move for them, this isn’t about us.”

The family is in the Band A priority list for council housing, but Mr Smith feels the Housemove website that allows people to bid on council properties is confusing. Bidders are categorised as home seekers and transfers.

He said: “It’s confusing what we can and can’t bid on.

“We’ve considered house transfers but the website doesn’t make it clear what properties are available, so we end up bidding on houses that we won’t even be considered for.”

“We would seriously consider moving out of Hangleton if a house was offered to us.”

Miss Pettett, 38, said that before the tragedy, it was bearable.

She said: “It was fine. We were still sleeping in the lounge, but it wasn’t bad.

“There was no mould or damp, but then Harley and Sydney moved in two weeks before I had Bobby, and it started.”

She now feels the flat has become impossible to live in, and says she constantly feels depressed.

The children have had to make sacrifices, too.

Amelia, nine, donates her toys and old clothes to charity to make space, and says it “would be amazing” to get a bigger house.

Brighton and Hove city councillors Nick Lewry and Dawn Barnett have worked with the family to get a new home for the past year.

Cllr Lewry said: “They are in this position through no fault of their own. I will not stop fighting until they have a new home.”

A council spokeswoman said: “Under the current allocations policy, they have a higher chance of being offered accommodation as a transfer than as a home seeker. Each advert is clearly marked at the top around who can bid, what size the property is and other relevant details.”