IS this the smallest house in Fenland? No bigger than an average garage or shed it might be described by an estate agent as compact . It is 21st century living for Tina Harris, who is five months pregnant and faces bringing up her child in the only home

IS this the smallest house in Fenland?

No bigger than an average garage or shed it might be described by an estate agent as 'compact'.

It is 21st century living for Tina Harris, who is five months' pregnant and faces bringing up her child in the only home she can afford. The thought of its fills her with despair.

"People can't actually believe that I live here," said the mum-to-be. "Some people think it looks sweet and others think it is just a shed. The trouble is I can't afford to pay any more for rent."

Tina, 27, pays £225 a month rent to her landlord and £65 a month council tax for the property in Norwood Road, March. She has several cleaning jobs from which she earns about £400 a month.

The property, with a frontage of about 10 feet and a depth of about 20 feet, has no room for a bed , so Tina has to sleep on the sofa.

She lives and sleeps in one room and has a tiny kitchen area, shower and toilet. The kitchen is so small she can hardly move around in it as she becomes more heavily pregnant.

"I don't know how I will cope," said Tina. "It is absolutely freezing at night and I have to keep the heaters on all the time. There is no room for a washing machine or a proper-size fridge or cooker. I don't want to have to bring my child up in here.

"I have lived here for two years and I was quite happy because it was what I could afford. Now the baby is on the way things are different."

After discovering she was pregnant Tina contacted Fenland District Council and put her name on the housing list. She is not optimistic that she will be offered accommodation before her baby is born.

Tina's partner lives with his family in King's Lynn and she is reluctant to leave the town and move away. She said: "I want to keep my jobs on to earn some money. I would just like somewhere suitable to bring up my baby. I can't pay a big deposit because I need the money to buy things for the baby but there could be someone out there who has somewhere better than this."

- If you know of a smaller home in Fenland call the newsdesk on 01354 652621 or 01945 584447 or e-mail news@cambs-times.co.uk or news@wisbech-standard.co.uk