A FAMILY left homeless by the blaze said they have not been helped by Basildon Council.

Tracey Allen, 46, her 83-year-old mum Olive Maryson and son Darrin 24, said they have had to rely on relatives’ hospitality, after being told to leave their homes in Bockingham Green.

Despite having just their nightwear on, none of the family have been allowed to return to their two homes on the Felmores estate, in Basildon, to gather fresh clothes.

They are relying on the hospitality of friends, or relatives, but said no-one from Basildon Council or St George’s Community Housing, who manage the homes, has been in touch to tell them when they can return home.

Darrin, 24, who lives above his mum on the estate, said: “I’ve been staying with friends wherever I can. The emergency services were excellent, but since then no-one’s been telling us anything.

“If we knew we could return in a week, or a month, we could plan for that. But we just don’t know what’s going on.

“We are victims of arson and we should be treated as such. Not just ignored by the council.”

Tracey, added: “I just want to know where I can live. All I’ve got that’s my own is the T-shirt I’m wearing. I’ve borrowed my clothes and shoes from my sister.

“I came back and was allowed to go in to get my purse, so I had money, but I’m worried about all my things that are still in there.”

In a statement, Basildon Council said anyone who needed temporary accommodation has been helped. But this was disputed by the Allen family.

They said because they were staying with relatives, and not in emergency council accommodation, they had been forgotten.

The family were all evacuated from their homes after a fire, started by yobs who torched an abandoned sofa, spread to the nearby timber-clad houses.

It spread within minutes, engulfing the three-storey building. The building has now been declared structurally unsafe.

While most people were evacuated by police, three residents living in top-floor flats, including Barry Maicher, 55, and daughter Nikki, 20, were trapped.

Firefighters rescued them from windows by ladder, after the fire spread to their front doors.

Residents were evacuated for their safety and taken to the Eversley Leisure Centre in Crest Avenue, Pitsea.

Basildon Council says it has done its utmost to help residents left homeless by the fire.

Spokesman Rab Fallon said the authority has made sure all the people who have been unable to return to their homes, in Bockingham Green, Felmores, have been found alternative places to stay. Mr Fallon added: “Basildon Council is working closely with St George’s Community Housing, in re-housing those made homeless by the fire in Bockingham Green.

“Twelve households were displaced and residents have been allocated temporary accommodation, while we work to re-house them.

“The safety and well-being of our residents is a priority for the council.

“We are committed to ensuring Bockingham Green residents are provided with alternative accommodation, while the council assesses the condition of the properties. Residents will be notified when it is safe to return.” Anyone with information about the fire, which started at 2.30am, on Friday, can contact police, on 0300 3334444.