A MUM and six of her children are facing up to being made homeless after the caravan park where they live refused to renew their tenancy.

Kerri Smith, 35, claims bosses at Thorney Bay Caravan Park, Canvey, have been trying to force her out for the past six months.

They say she is a nuisance neighbour and began eviction proceedings in February.

But the case was thrown out when it went before a judge at Southend County Court in May.

Soon after, Miss Smith received a letter informing her that her tenanacy would not be renewed on July 14.

She said: “The management has made my life hell, knocking on my door all the time.

“I have been stopped from using the washing machines and prevented from buying gas and electricty, so I’ve been relying on my neighbour.

“It seems they’re trying to run me into the ground to get rid of me. I have no idea where I’m going to go or what I’m going to do.”

With less than a month to go until her tenancy agreement expires, Miss Smith is desperate to find a home for herself and her children, who are aged between one and ten.

She moved to Thorney Bay Caravan Park about year ago from a home she was sharing with an ex-partner in Southend.

She ended up staying at a refuge with her children in Great Yarmouth, but moved back to the area as she has a 12-year-old who lives with his father in Southend and she wanted to continue to see the child on a regular basis.

Miss Smith said: “This was a simple solution to all the problems. It was £150 a week and that was that.

“I didn’t think I would still be here. It’s not ideal with six children, but I have nowhere to go and no one to turn to.”

When she first moved to the site £135 of her rent was paid by Southend Council where she is on the housing waiting list.

Castle Point Council now pays £135 of the rent with Kerri paying £15.

She denies accusations by the park management she and her kids have caused nuisance to other residents.

She said: “The children haven’t done anything wrong apart from being kids. I think its unfair that people can be treated like this.”

Managers: We fear for the children’s welfare
THORNEY Bay Park bosses say they want Kerri Smith and her family to leave because they are concerned for her children.

Managing director Jeff King said: “We became concerned about the children and have raised concerns with appropriate agencies, such as social services.

“We don’t want people like that on our caravan park.”

Social services have been working with a number of families on the site for about a year.

In his statement to Southend County Court in May, site manager Paul Smith said he had received several complaints about the behaviour of Miss Smith’s children.

He said: “Complaints included banging on neighbouring caravans, throwing stones at windows, kicking footballs at caravans and throwing mud on a car.

“As a result of this two neighbouring tenants have vacated their units.”

The court dismissed the case.