A WOMAN is taking legal action against Darlington Borough Council after a series of break-ins at the home she rents out.

In the most recent burglary at Katherine Flanagan's flat in Gales House, Melsonby Crescent, in the Lascelles area of the town, all the furniture was stolen, the kitchen was ripped out, paint was strewn on the walls and the front door was taken off its hinges.

The property has been so badly damaged that she is unable to let it to other tenants, she says.

Ms Flanagan bought the property, which is in a block of flats, from the council in 1997 and since then it has been responsible for letting the flat to council tenants.

She said: "I am just devastated by all this. When I bought the flat it was absolutely beautiful, but over the last few years the block of flats has gone downhill.

"The council does not seem to be maintaining a service. The main entrance door is not secure and anybody can get into the block. I have been on the phone constantly trying to get things done to secure the place.

"Everybody in the area has been complaining about it. I have sought advice and they told me that it is up to the council to maintain security.

"My solicitor has informed the council that I want compensation and damages. The council do not seem to care."

Ms Flanagan bought the flat for £11,000. When it was valued three years ago, it was estimated to be worth £26,000.

She said: "I don't think that I will be able to sell it, and I am still paying the mortgage on it. Some of the flats in the block are boarded up.

"I am hoping that the council will buy it back off me as a compulsory purchase."

A council spokesman said: "We acknowledge that there are problems with Gales House.

"We have done everything we can to try to ensure that the property is secure.

"We have fitted metal doors, renewed door locks and we do regularly weekly visits. There are additional visits by community wardens, and the cleaners are also keeping us updated.

"We are considering what action we can take in the future."