A daughter and her ill-mother are fighting to stay in their multi-generation home after councillors decided to evict them from their home.

Melissa Simpson and her mother Carol Berry have been given two months to look for a new place to stay after the Ovingham Joint Burial Committee decided to close their home, Cemetery Lodge, in Wylam at a meeting on February 20, 2024.

The committee's decision was 'collectively' made after members looked at its current and likely future financial resources, the high cost of necessary and ongoing repairs to the lodge and the prudent and correct use of public money.

"I'm being evicted from my home after 20 years and my mam moved in with me two years ago as she had cancer and other health problems and the landlords have not kept the property maintained," Melissa said.

"At the end of January our gas supply was capped due to a new pipe needed.

"We have had no hot water or heat, and my mam's health is suffering.

"My mam has two types of arthritis, a hernia and colostomy bag, so it has been horrendous for her.

"I brought her to live here with me because she was so ill, and she was just getting a bit of mobility back but now the effects of this mentally and physically are taking its toll.

"From many generations my family have lived here - so we don't want to go.

"I'm devastated. I want to fight to stay here but I must make sure my mam is safe first but I’m going to fight for the bungalow.

"I know that the whole village is behind me, they all know me and I’m always here to help them all.

"I love our village, my work is here, my friends, my sanctuary is here."

Ovingham Parish Council said:"Ovingham Joint Burial Committee is formed of four councils, Wylam, Ovingham, Horsley and Ovington each council has two members on the Committee.

"The decision to close Cemetery Lodge was made by the Ovingham Joint Burial Committee (OJBC). Wylam Parish council did not make the decision. It was a collective decision made by OJBC.

"At its meeting on 20 February the Ovingham Joint Burial Committee, having regard to its current and likely future financial resources, the high cost of necessary and ongoing repairs to the lodge and the prudent and correct use of public money, resolved to close the lodge."

Villagers are in the process of creating a GoFundMe page to stop the eviction and have also written to the parish council to complain and support Melissa and her mam.