A MOTHER who gave up her job to look after three members of her family says she will end up "slung on the streets" because no-one can help her.

Linda Elford, 51, of Broomleigh, Tweedy Road, Bromley, has been given notice to leave her home by January 27 or face court action.

Housing 21 manages the flats but the Met Police owns them and needs them back.

The housing association says tenants always knew the agreement was temporary and is doing its best to relocate people.

Mrs Elford, who moved to the flat 11 years ago with her two children, is devastated.

She says Housing 21 has so far been unable to offer her a home within a reasonable range of her elderly parents and her estranged husband, for whom she is a full-time carer.

Mrs Elford's father has dementia and her mother has severe arthritis, has already had a knee and hip replacement and is waiting for similar operations on the other side of her body.

They live in Bellingham and Mrs Elford's husband, who left her 12 years ago with two teenagers and forced her into housing association accomodation, lives in Croydon.

They are now on good terms and Mr Elford has Huntingdon's disease, which affects the central nervous system.

Mrs Elford is presently trying to transfer him to a hospice.

She is also a part-time cleaner and needs the financial support of her 27-year-old daughter, who lives with her and works full-time in a print shop.

The 51-year-old, who gave up her job as an auditor two years ago to look after her family, says she has looked into renting privately but cannot afford the cost of rent, bills and a deposit.

She added: "I have got a lot going on in my life without feeling all this stress.

"We have made lives in this place. I am doing the authorities a favour because they're not paying to look after my family.

"Yet nobody wants to help us and we'll be slung on the streets.

"We are being tossed around like muppets."

A Bromley Council spokesman said: "We cannot comment on individual cases but in general terms demand for housing is far in excess of the supply.

"This problem is not confined to Bromley and all authorities have to prioritise by those with the most urgent need to move."

What do you think? Send your emails to newsroom@london.newsquest.co.uk