A FAMILY of six children with twins on the way have told of their fears of becoming homeless after being told they must leave their house.

Leanne and John Hayes, aged 37 and 34, were supposed to have left their rented home on Egmont Road, Middlesbrough, by June 16 but have refused to vacate the property because they have nowhere else to live.

Mrs Hayes said she is especially desperate because she is due to give what is expected to be a premature birth to twins at any time.

The mother, whose children are aged 18, 17, 11, ten, four and one, said the family were told to leave the house owned by property group Python Property, because the owners wanted to sell the home.

She claimed the family were only given one month's notice. However Python Properties say they were in fact given two months' notice and in any case, the tenancy was originally only supposed to be for six months from July 2014 to December 2014.

Mrs Hayes, who explained neither she nor her husband were working, said: "We got on to Middlesbrough council and they said we should just sit tight until we get sorted with somewhere else, but they're coming round and calling us every day asking us to leave. We're begging for another property but we just can't get anywhere. I'm in an out of hospital with the twins, we're just desperate for a home."

A spokesman for Middlesbrough Borough Council explained that in fact issues of making sure young families are housed is down to housing association The Thirteen Group.

Mark Oates, general manager of Python Properties, explained that the tenancy agreement was supposed to end in December and two months' notice was given which expired over a month ago.

He said: "We understand that the tenants have been working closely with The Thirteen Group to make arrangements for another property. We continue to monitor progress and communicate with both the family and The Thirteen Group. Apparently the search is taking longer than normal as they are seeking a larger property. However we do work with The Thirteen Group on other matters and know them to be a competent organisation who will find the family a suitable home."

A spokeswoman for Thirteen Group said: “This family has been given priority for re-housing and we are working hard to facilitate a property that is suitable for their specific needs.”