Anne Roberts, 24, was left freezing in her home after her boiler packed up on Friday night.

She sent daughter Katie to stay at her grandmother's house as she couldn't bear to leave her shivering in the cold.

Bosses from Home, the social landlord which owns the property in Garside Drive, Hartlepool, gave Anne portable heaters to try to warm up the house over the weekend and have pledged to have the problem rectified by today.

Anne, who doesn't work, said: "We need hot water and heating. I'm not so bothered about me, it's my daughter.

"The house is freezing to start with. All they have given me are heaters.

"These heaters eat your electricity, so I'm going to be putting more electricity on to use them."

Anne said she first discovered the problem when she returned home from a visit to her parents, Richard, 59, and Christine Roberts, 48, in Winterbottom Avenue on Friday night. She said she contacted the association as soon as she could and at 6pm on Saturday a contractor came out. He said the problem involved a faulty circuit board.

Anne said: "I pay my bills, but why should I if they are not going to treat me like a human being?"

A Home spokeswoman said: "The contractors left two electric heaters at the house so Ms Roberts had some form of heating until we could get the circuit board replaced. The boiler and parts are under guarantee with Potterton's, who have a contract with Home to undertake repairs within 24 hours of any call."

"Ms Roberts contacted Potterton's on Monday morning to arrange an appointment to call and repair the heating system but terminated the call before an appointment could be made.

"Home regrets that Ms Roberts' home was without full central heating and hot water over the weekend. But an engineer will call her on Tuesday, November 18, to arrange access for repairs.