A mum was 'in shock' after her mould-ridden ceiling in her flat collapsed - despite repeated warnings to the council.

Amber James, 25, was awoken to a "huge crashing sound" when her kitchen ceiling fell in at 4.30am on Monday. "

The mum ran straight into her four-year-old son's room to check if he was ok and was still asleep and safe in his bed.

Pictures shared by Amber from Hollingbury, Brighton, show a large hole in the kitchen with exposed rafters as well as parts of the ceiling smashed on the kitchen sink and hob.

Amber, who also has a one-year-old, had previously reported issues of severe black mould and damp within the property "multiple times"."

She said: "I was awoken by the loudest cracking then a huge crashing sound at 4:30am 4th of August."

"I ran straight into my son's room to check if he was okay and luckily he was still asleep and safe in his bed"

"Then I realised what the noise was and had to force the kitchen door open and saw this."

"I was in complete shock and starting crying at the thought of what could've happened if me or my sons were in the kitchen when this happened."

Amber said she reported

for the first time to Brighton and Hove Council on May 13 that her kitchen ceiling had both a leak and mould issues.

Council contractors then attended the property on June 17, Amber claimed.

But, Amber claimed that the workers washed and applied paint over the affected area without addressing the underlying problems.

She added that on June 30 she called repairs as mould came back through the paint that had been done on June 17 and then she was visited by a supervisor a week later who deemed the mould and damp "safe", Amber claims."

"I'm so disgusted by the council allowing it to get the this after I've reported it multiple times," she said."

Amber who has been living in the council flat for two and a half years says her son has experience "a lot" of health issues - having been prescribed an asthma pump, she claims."

Without a place to stay Amber has managed to go to her mums house.

She said: "I've been able to stay at my mums house as my younger sister is away until Wednesday so me and my sons are sleeping in her room all in 1 double bed"

"I've had no contact from the council regarding where I'm supposed to stay and still trying to get answers from them."

Brighton and Hove Council have been approached for a comment.