A DESPERATE mum has told of her misery at being forced to spend seven months living in a homeless hostel.

When Katherine Cornell moved into the Edgerton Lodge hostel, in Tadcaster, back in April, she thought it was a stop gap until Selby District Council found her a new home.

But Ms Cornell, 44, is still living at the hostel with her 14-year-old son, Kevin.

Today, she revealed the stress of not having her own house is taking its toll.

She said her relationships are suffering because she has no privacy. She also said she was taking anti-depressants.

To add to her woes, council chiefs have warned there is no prospect of her being rehoused in the near future.

Ms Cornell said: "I am having to share a bedroom with my son. At his age, that is not ideal.

"Edgerton Lodge is a beautiful place to live, but it is a hostel all the same. I have been here seven months and it is about time the council got me a home.

"It is very stressful not having somewhere to call your own. I am on anti-depressants and, obviously, it is difficult to maintain any kind of relationship.

"When I first came here, I was led to believe that I would be re-housed rather quickly. It is not just me. There are other families in here as well.

"We are not charity cases. Everybody is paying rent and bills. But we need somewhere we can call a home."

Steve Martin, chief housing officer at Selby District Council, said: "There is no way of knowing how long she will be there.

"She has asked to live in Tadcaster, Saxton or Stutton, and few properties become available there each year.

"Land is snapped up very quickly. We have a decreasing number of council properties and there is a growing waiting list.

"Unfortunately for Ms Cornell, there are four or five people ahead of her on that list. It is difficult, but she could be waiting a long time."

Updated: 15:30 Wednesday, October 31, 2001