A MOTHER-to-be could be spending Christmas this year sleeping rough in a Basingstoke wood.

Seven-month pregnant Tracie Mummery, 20, has been living in a tent in the woodland area off Cordale Road since March, and fears spending the cold nights there.

After her mother’s boyfriend moved into the family house in January, Miss Mummery, from Basingstoke, was kicked out of the house and had to move up to Birmingham with her boyfriend Jay Taylor, and his friend. Unknown to the couple, Mr Taylor’s friend was being prosecuted for drug use and they were forced to leave the accommodation, walking from Birmingham to Sutton Coldfield, before eventually winding up in Tamworth.

They managed to live in a bed and breakfast for a couple of week’s, but when they could no longer afford it, moved back to Basingstoke in March – and where they have been in a tent ever since.

Miss Mummery told The Gazette: “It feels like I’ve been told to ‘get used to it’ but I shouldn’t have to get used to this, this is wrong.

“I’m out here in freezing temperatures, it gets bitterly cold. “It gets down to about minus seven degrees here some nights recently and it’s only going to get colder,” she added.

Heavily pregnant Miss Mummery, whose due date is February 23, 2017, and Mr Taylor are expecting a little girl who they have decided to call Angel Lilly May, but hope to have found a permanent home before this date.

The pair were spotted by Julie Bradley, from Popley, when Mr Taylor collected some donations from cleaning company, 1st Cleaning, where she works, on the pair’s behalf.

The 54-year-old and her colleagues had recently been collecting donations for the homeless when Mr Taylor came in and she helped him take the items back to where they were sleeping.

Julie said: “He mentioned Tracie and she popped her head out of the tent. I couldn’t believe that such a thing could happen here, I knew I had to help them.

“It’s horrifying that something like this could happen in Basingstoke, especially with it being the Christmas season. I’m determined to help find them a home.

“He told me that I was the first person to care and that everywhere else had rejected him. It’s a vicious circle for him. He’s trying to get a job, but can’t get one until he’s got a home, but can’t get a home until he gets a job.”

Miss Mummery added: “Thank you as well to everyone else, including Julie, who has helped me along the way.”

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council housing manager Kate Randall said: “We are unable to discuss individual cases but we will always support borough residents who are struggling to secure appropriate housing. We would encourage any resident who needs assistance to contact us, so that we can look at their individual circumstances, provide them with the appropriate advice and determine the best way forward.”