I had to put into writing how strongly I feel regarding the discrimination against children in this day and age.

Myself, my husband and three children live in rented accommodation, me being a full-time mum and my husband in full-time employment.

Due to the current climate we need to move to a more fuel-efficient property. We have been flatly refused one three-bed property as we are a non-professional couple with children. At a second property owned by an upstanding estate, we were told that children would most likely be refused as they create noise. Again this was a large three-bed property. A third three-bed property we applied for, we were refused due to having children.

This is 2011, a time of equality. People of many groups are protected – rightly so – by anti-discrimination laws. So why aren’t the next generation of innocent children?

Ryedale being such a community, we often hear statements such as making the future brighter for our children, ensuring jobs are available for the next generation etc. Yet local private landlords flatly refuse to house such children.

If this is not discrimination, then I don’t know what is.

Name and address supplied, Ryedale.