Bereaved single mum on benefits forced from home at Christmas by horrific fly infestation

A single mum says flies have forced her out of her home meaning she'll have to spend Christmas in a hotel.

Sonya Bullock and her son Hudson, two, have been hit with an infestation at their flat which has upturned her life.

But despite forking out for her building's maintenance costs and hundreds more on pest control, the frustrated parent says the problem isn't going away.

The spiralling financial toll of the problem has left Sonya unable to afford Christmas presents for Hudson and other family members this year.

Instead, it's upturned her life and seriously impacted her health following a tough year after losing her husband, with the 45-year-old having to postpone her college course and be prescribed anti-depressants.

Sonya bought the flat in 2008 but says she's spent hundreds trying to get to the root of where the flies are coming from (Newcastle Chronicle)

Sonya, from South Shields, bought her flat in 2008 from her local council but has now tried everything to try and root out the insects which she suspects are coming from a leak near her bathroom.

"I researched these flies and discovered they were drain flies so I spent a lot of money cleaning the drains," she told Chronicle Live.

"These flies just would not disappear so I decided to contact the Environmental Health Department who told me they do not come out for flies.

Sonya has had to book into a hotel over Christmas as the problem has gotten so bad (Newcastle Chronicle)

"He said I would need to find the breeding source and wish me luck as they can breed in pipes, drains and gutters.

"I've spent months trying to find the breeding source and paid Dyno and Dyno Rod to help me but no luck."

So far Sonya has had to crash at her mum's house to escape the infestation and has checked into hotels, with financial help from her family.

Sonya's flat in South Shields has been invaded by flies (Newcastle Chronicle)

"When I bought the flat I was working and in a better position but I lost my job during the pandemic," she added.

"I'm on Universal Credit but don't get help to pay my mortgage, and my husband died earlier this year.

"I have been staying with my mum but she just has a fold out bed so I have stayed in hotels with my son to escape the house.

The fly infestation at Sonya's flat has caused her mental health to suffer (Newcastle Chronicle)

"We are in one over Christmas and I haven't been able to afford any Christmas presents for my son, or family this year.

A spokesperson for South Tyneside Council said: “Surveyors have visited the property on several occasions, most recently today, and have been unable to determine the source or cause of flies.

“They have also not identified any leaks in the bathroom.

“We will arrange for a surveyor to revisit in the New Year and further inspect the property.”