A family has been forced to live in a caravan in their garden since their home was flooded causing damage around £40,000.

Cambs Times: Lucy Housden in her flood affected home in Upwell. Picture: Matthew Usher.Lucy Housden in her flood affected home in Upwell. Picture: Matthew Usher. (Image: Archant Norfolk 2014)

Lucy Housden, 49, husband Robin, 62, and son Ben, 22, could no longer live in their house at Thurlands Drove, Upwell, after water contaminated by their cesspit seeped through.

The experience has had a stressful impact on the family, especially their son, who has autism.

Mrs Housden, a part-time cook, said: “It has really unsettled him – he has cut all his hair off. He has his own living room and we have had to pack up all his stuff. He is obsessed with the internet and as we are in the caravan there isn’t any for him.”

She added: “It’s been so stressful us going to work every day, making phone calls trying to sort out the insurance.”

Cambs Times: Collect photos of the flood waters in Spikings Butchers on St Peters in Upwell. Picture: Submitted.Collect photos of the flood waters in Spikings Butchers on St Peters in Upwell. Picture: Submitted. (Image: Archant Norfolk 2014)

The family were on a break to Yorkshire when their home was flooded during the evening of August 8.

Daughter Charlotte, 24, was staying at the house to look after the pets.

But when she returned from a wedding reception at around midnight, she came back to see the whole of the downstairs was flooded.

Mrs Housden said: “She phoned me straight away and I immediately panicked, thinking that something has happened. I didn’t sleep all night and came back in the morning.

Cambs Times: Lucy Housden in her flood affected home in Upwell. Picture: Matthew Usher.Lucy Housden in her flood affected home in Upwell. Picture: Matthew Usher. (Image: Archant Norfolk 2014)

“Charlotte was making the firemen bacon sandwiches as they were there most of night pumping water out. We also have indoor cats who were terrified.”

The family has lived at their house since 1997 and have never been flooded before.

And since it happened, the family have slept in their caravan which has one bedroom for Ben. Mrs and Mr Housden sleep in the living area.

The house has been undergoing an extensive drying out process with large industrial fans. When it’s dry it will need re-plastering, re-decorating and all the tiles will need lifting up and replacing. This will all cost about £25,000.

Cambs Times: Collect photos of the flood waters in Spikings Butchers on St Peters in Upwell. Picture: Submitted.Collect photos of the flood waters in Spikings Butchers on St Peters in Upwell. Picture: Submitted. (Image: Archant Norfolk 2014)

However their Axa Insurance confirmed that they will foot the bill.

Jade Trimbee of Axa said: “It’s all on track and our loss adjustor has been liaising with Mr Housden and we will be giving him money this week.

“A static caravan will be delivered this week and although there has been a delay, it is quite normal as we needed to source it and test the ground.”

Cambs Times: Collect photos of the flood waters in Spikings Butchers on St Peters in Upwell. Picture: Submitted.Collect photos of the flood waters in Spikings Butchers on St Peters in Upwell. Picture: Submitted. (Image: Archant Norfolk 2014)