A woman has been forced to move from her North Tyneside home due to a wasp infestation.
Anna Milano-Tee, from Tynemouth, was hospitalised after being stung on the finger by a wasp which caused her hand to swell.
The 64-year-old said there has been an issue with swarms of wasps in her building since August, with them coming through the communal light fixtures and getting into her home under the door.
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Despite repeated calls to housing provider Bernicia Homes, Anna said she was told there nothing they could do.
But since the incident the housing provider says it is dealing with the issue as a "matter of urgency" and has sent out a pest control team.
She said: "It is absolutely dreadful. I'm on the third floor and when I come down in the morning I have to watch where I am putting my hand on the banister.
"A few weeks ago there were around 30 dead on the window sill and the carpet was ingrained with them all the way up to the third floor. It looked really bad."
Anna claims calls to her housing provider fell on deaf ears and says she was told residents would need to pay for pest control.
She said: "They said it is nothing to do with them and I was really quite upset. You expect a little bit of help of your landlord, don't you?
"I have phoned several times about it and was told it was nothing to do with us.
"I was told we would need to pay £40 for pest control to come out but I am paying rent."
But things came to a head when Anna was taken to hospital when a wasp sting caused her hand to swell.
She said: "I was sitting with my duvet and felt something at my neck, I flicked it and then realised I had been stung.
"I was stung on my right hand, on my baby finger and it swelled up. My hand was double the size and really red."
Anna has now moved out of the flat and is living with her daughter, Tiffany Milano-Tee, until the issue is resolved.
Tiffany said: "I feel like crying all the time. She has been stung that many times it has caused a flare up and a really bad infection. It was really, really awful sting."
Tiffany said wasps could be seen all over the communal areas of the building.
She added: "They are all over the floor, all up the walls. My mum has been complaining about this since August. It is their responsibility - tenants need to live in a safe environment."
She claimed: "It wasn't until I threatened them with a lawyer that they got pest control out.
"They couldn't find anything internally and think it is in the roof so they need to get a cherry picker out."
Steven Adey, Bernicia head of housing, said: “I have spoken with both Mrs Milano-Tee and her daughter and was very concerned to learn of her going to hospital with a wasp sting.
“Pest control teams sent by us have been investigating reports of wasps in the communal area for the flats where Mrs Milano-Tee lives.
"After extensive searches, it would appear that the insects are entering the block through a broken pipe and we are dealing with this problem to have it resolved as a matter of urgency.
“A member of our housing team is meeting Mrs Milano-Tee and her daughter tomorrow to listen to their concerns and to reassure them about the action we are taking.”
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