A mother is furious routine repairs to her family home were not finished, leaving plaster and dust strewn on the stairway.

Lorraine Defriend, 47, of Brent Terrace, Golders Green, said the repair workers left her stairs bare and removed the smoke alarm in the landing on June 14, then abandoned the site because the council said they were at risk of breathing in too much dust after one and a half days.

She lives with her four youngest children, aged six to 12, and her son Mason, 10, suffers from asthma which was worsened by the debris brought up during repair works.

She said pieces of plaster fall from the nearly-bare walls, some big enough to injure a child, and the dust on the steps makes it easy to fall over.

A surveyor told Ms Defriend work needed to be done house in January as plaster along the stairs was blown and workers from the Mears group, who repair houses with Barnet Homes, were sent round on June 13.

Mears’ workers left the house a day later and told Ms Defriend they would be back shortly but, two weeks later, they have still not returned and have not replied to her calls.

An apology has now been sent out by Barnet Homes, who have also promised to resolve the issue.

Ms Defriend said: “It’s not suitable for children here. They like to run around and play but they could hurt themselves if I let them.

“I just don’t understand why the council decided it was too dangerous for their builders to work here but they let my children keep living here and don’t do anything to fix it.”

The lack of response has left Ms Defriend ready to take legal action against the council and Mears.

Jenna Barnes, 29, a friend of the family who visits regularly with her two young children, was concerned Ms Defriend’s problem was similar to many other people’s in Barnet.

She said: “The amount of time they have left Lorraine and her young children in this house is wrong. Why could they not send them to a B&B while they worked?

“There are so many people, usually single mothers, whose repair needs are ignored by the council and they suffer with them because they think there is nothing to be done. We want to show them what you can do for yourself.”

Bosses at Barnet Homes said they take the safety of their residents "very seriously".

Mary Cawley, Barnet Homes’ PR and Communications Manager, said: “Barnet Homes has spoken to Ms Defriend to apologise sincerely for the delays she has experienced.

"Barnet Homes’ contractor Mears has contacted Ms Defriend and agreed repair works will start tomorrow, Wednesday 29 June.

“We will be tracking the repairs closely to ensure the work is completed in the shortest possible time frame.”

Mears declined to comment.