A WOMAN who lost everything in a house fire says she is ‘coming up against brick walls’ in her attempts to get rehoused.

Lyn Garbutt lived on Long Street, Thirsk, with her 89-year-old father John but their home and possessions were destroyed by a fire in late March.

The pair initially moved in with Ms Garbutt’s daughter but the house became too crowded and Ms Garbutt left three weeks ago.

Since then she has sought help from Hambleton District Council’s housing team but says she was told she is not a priority despite being homeless.

The 62-year-old is currently staying with a friend, Gina Burks, and said: "I just want somewhere to live.

"Every time I pick up the phone (to the council) there is nothing.

"They are always in a meeting and nobody ever rings you back and then the flats that I've seen just go.

"I'm just getting nowhere."

Ms Garbutt, who works part time as a cleaner, said she would live 'anywhere' in Thirsk but believes that because she has been taken in by Mrs Burks, she has not received the support she needs from the council.

She said: "I am going round a corner and slamming into a brick wall and going round another corner and the same thing happens.

"I want somebody to help me to get somewhere but nobody seems bothered as long as I am residing at Gina's.

"But is her house, and I was only supposed to be there for a week."

Ms Burks said "I don't know where she would be if I had not taken her in.

"I presume they (the council) are all very, very busy and there are other people needing help but it is just that we don't seem to be getting anywhere."

The pair thanked local shops and agencies including The Clock charity and Belvoir estate agents for their help.

A spokesman for Hambleton District Council said: "The properties referred to are privately owned and therefore, while the council helped Lyn to apply for tenancies, the decision to offer those properties was at the discretion of the landlord or their agent.

"The council will continue to provide all the support it can to Lyn, according to her choices."