A WOMAN and her pregnant daughter were forced to sleep in their living room after leaking water brought the ceiling crashing down.

Disaster struck in the house in Hurstwood Avenue, Blackburn, on Tuesday night as Annette Ford, 39, and her daughter Rebecca, 15, were getting ready to go to bed.

Annette said water from a newly-fitted overflow system poured into the loft of their home forcing a sodden ceiling to come toppling down around them.

Landlords Twin Valley Homes have apologised to the Fords and promised the repair work will be done as soon as possible.

The disaster meant the family were left without water and electricity in the house, which is managed by Twin Valley Homes, the company set up to manage Blackburn with Darwen Council's old housing stock.

The pair spent a night in a downstairs room.

The work was carried out by Wates, a company sub-contracted to carry out maintenance work for Twin Valley and Annette and Rebecca fear they may have to move out for up to five days until the mess is sorted.

Annette said: "I heard water dripping and saw cracks in my bedroom ceiling. I couldn't believe it.

"I ran up the stairs and as I got to the top, the whole lot just fell in. I was crying my eyes out. I was in hysterics. I don't know where we are going to sleep. Hopefully we can stay with a friend."

Twin Valley chief executive Phil Richards said: "Our sincere apologies go to Mrs Ford for the distress and disruption caused by this event.

"Our emergency team and our contractor, Wates Construction, responded to the tenants' call last night and they have been doing everything they possibly can to put things right."

Mrs Ford added: "I really appreciate what they are doing to help now and the support they are giving. They even took my saturated bed sheets and washed and dried them for me, but I suppose it's the least they could do because this should never have happened in the first place."