Mum to sue after plaster falls on tot

This came a day after Miss Paula Batty, 18, of Douglas Place, Blackburn, said she had informed her landlord, Twin Valley Homes, that the bathroom needed urgent repairs.

She was told it could not be fixed until next week as it wasn't an emergency, but today the window suround was being mended.

Twin Valley Homes said they were today fixing the window. Miss Batty said she phoned one afternoon last week, and again the following morning

The accident left her baby, Rhys King, unhurt, but frightened. Miss Batty has informed Twin Valley Homes that she has passed the matter on to her solicitors.

And she spoke of the moment when plaster suddenly fell from the window surround on to the bath and floor.

Paula said: "I was giving Rhys a bath at 7.30pm and all the plaster fell down on him in the bath. It was raining so it was probably damp. He was screaming and I have to take him to the doctors, but they haven't a spare appointment yet.

"He was sick in the night. I've been keeping an eye on him. If I take him in the bathroom he starts crying. It didn't cut him. It was the fright more than anything.

"Earlier in the day I rang the council because the bathroom window was leaking water. They said it wasn't an emergency and they said I should take my own insurance out.

"The earliest they said they could send someone is next week. They said it wasn't a life or death matter. All my carpets are full of plaster. The window isn't smashed but there's a hole so you can see brick under the plaster.

"I rang them today and said I'm going to a solicitor. They just said okay. I'm going to pursue something."

Phil Richards, chief executive of Twin Valley Homes, said: "According to our records the first time we were notified of this was last Thursday and we responded to the tenant's request on Friday morning and Friday afternoon but were unable to contact her.

"We left a note requesting the tenant get in touch to arrange a convenient time."