A MUM says she is frightened for the health of her children because their home is infested with pharaoh ants.

Karen Radford, 34, says her Thamesmead home has been colonised by the insects over the past 10 years and, despite treatments, show no sign of going away.

But finding the ants in her toddler son's bedroom at their home in Duxford House, Wolvercote Road, Thamesmead, was the last straw.

Miss Radford, who also has a daughter, 13, wants her landlord, Gallions Housing Association, to empty the block of flats where she lives and treat the whole building.

She said: "I have been told it is pointless trying to bait them flat by flat."

Miss Radford says several of her neighbours are also suffering from the ant infestations.

She added: "Gallions' pest control man puts bait down but the ants keep coming back. They are getting into my son's room now and even into sealed containers."

Miss Radford says she has even accidently eaten the ants because they have got into food such as breakfast cereals.

She said: "With my son now crawling it frightens me he will pick them up and eat them or they will crawl all over him."

Gallions says it is aware of three cases of pharaoh ants in Duxford House.

A spokesman said: "We are taking the appropriate steps to ensure their eradication.

"The treatment we have implemented is in accordance with the guidelines set out in government regulations."

"We responded immediately when the incidents were reported and we will continue to treat and monitor the situation until the matter is resolved."



Pharaoh ant facts

PHARAOH ants are notoriously difficult to get rid of.

They are tiny yellow or orange ants which like warm places.

The ants nest in areas such as cracks in woodwork and under carpets and are often found in moist places such as bathrooms.

They will eat almost anything and can get into unopened packages.

The ants like greasy, fatty and sugary foods, dead insects and are also attracted to freshly-used bandages and soiled nappies.

They contaminate food by wandering all over it.

They are difficult to get rid of because if a colony is attacked it will break up into several new colonies.