A single mother with a baby boy who has lived in London her whole life faces being “forced” to move up to County Durham or become homeless.

Demi Longworth, 23, has spoken exclusively to The Northern Echo about her terrible experiences of being told to move more than 250 miles from her home to Horden.

Ms Longworth was evicted last week and was moved into emergency accommodation for a few days by Hillingdon Council, finally finding stability.

Then the single mum received a phone call from a housing officer that felt like her heart was “ripped” out of her chest as she was told she had a choice between moving 250 miles north or becoming homeless again.

Grahame Morris, the town's MP, has confirmed that this is not an "isolated incident" and branded it a "shameful practice".

This comes after The Northern Echo revealed that large numbers of refugees and vulnerable people are being moved up North by southern councils due to a lack of social housing.

The North East is already in the grip of a housing crisis with 75,000 families stuck for months waiting for social housing, more than 300 homeless children, and County Durham rent rising 7% in the last year alone.

(Image: Nicholas.T.Ansell/PA Wire)Mr Morris, has slammed the decision by Hillingdon Council and described the situation as "distressing".

He has reached out to Durham County Council and Hillingdon Council in the hopes that Ms Longworth receives the help she needs and is not forced to relocate against her wishes.

Cllr James Rowlandson, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for resources, investments, and assets, confirmed that the council was aware of the situation and that nobody, especially a single mother and her baby, should be moved 250 miles from support.

Ms Longworth reached out to The Northern Echo within hours of being phoned to tell her of her relocation.

She choked up as she described how she had been born in Hillingdon hospital and always lived in the area, her friends and family are all nearby.

(Image: Northern Echo)After she was evicted last week, she waited five hours at the council offices to try to get help.

She said: “I explained my situation and they said if we were offered a house outside of the borough how would we feel about that.

“I said I have no support network and I can’t live far away from my son’s GP. Everything in my life is around here. I can’t just leave for somewhere five hours away that I have never heard of.”

The 23-year-old explained that when she expressed how scared she was by moving away that was when it became more “threatening”.

She continued: “I am currently in emergency accommodation. It’s not perfect but it’s liveable. I have been here for two nights and this is my third day.

“I woke up to a phone call from a new housing officer. He said if I didn’t take this place they would discharge me. I would then be homeless without support and we would have to fend for ourselves.

“I asked what were the other options and he said either we have to leave (for Horden) or we would have to live on our friends sofas otherwise.”

Growing more emotional the single mother described how awful the experiences have been and the “shock” she is in.

She said: “I feel absolutely depressed. As soon as I got comfortable here I am being told I have to move. My heart dropped.

“I am in so much shock I don’t know how to react. It was like they ripped my heart out.

“My son and me are going to be alone.”

(Image: Northern Echo) Grahame Morris, Labour MP for Easington, said: “This is not an isolated case. There is a distressing pattern of behaviour where vulnerable, homeless families are being moved out of London and essentially forced to relocate hundreds of miles away from family, friends, and support networks.

“This shameful practice places additional strain on our already overstretched and underfunded public services in County Durham, while leaving vulnerable homeless families abandoned and isolated.

“I have raised this case with Durham County Council and Hillingdon Council and hope that Miss Longworth receives the support she deserves and is not forced to relocate against her wishes.”

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Mr Rowlandson added: "We are aware of Ms Longworth's situation and are contacting Hillingdon Council as we agree that it is not right to move anyone, especially a mother with a young child, more than 250 miles away from their family and support network. 

"If Ms Longworth is relocated to County Durham, we will look to offer her every support she and her son needs, as we do in every case."

Hillingdon Council have been approached for a comment.