By Jenna Cairney

A FAMILY home was severely damaged yesterday after a standard repair went horribly wrong, forcing a mother, two sons and their dog to flee the property in St Mary’s in Dundee.

Wendy Mackay and her sons Rhys (11) and Donald (8) had been in bed yesterday morning in their St Ninian Terrace home when contractors, working in homes on the street on behalf of Dundee City Council, moved a boiler in her attic and failed to notice a live water pipe was still attached.

Water started pouring through the ceilings and the family just managed to escape as the ceiling collapsed. Last night Wendy and her sons were in a hotel after being told their home was covered in contaminated water.

“We were in bed and we heard them walking about when all of a sudden we heard the water,” Wendy said.

“Water started shooting out through all the walls and the roof in the bedroom collapsed.

“Then everyone was running about, the bairns were hysterical. I was allowed to run in and try and get all the electrical stuff, but it was too late, it was already covered in water.”

Neighbours in St Ninian Terrace reported seeing water gush out the wooden slates on the side of the house. The leak poured down into the living room where the floor was covered in an inch of dirty water.

New flat-screen TVs, a Playstation, beds and bed covers were all destroyed. Wendy’s college work, artwork and the family’s clothes were also wrecked.

“The kids’ beds, my bed—everything is ruined,” she continued.

“They were supposed to be treating woodworm in the loft. They put the scaffolding up and tried to move a tank, but there was still a pipe attached to it. They said that none of the others in the street were like that, but that’s not the point, they should have checked every single one.

“I’ve been here five years now and it’s taken me a lot of time to get the place just how I want it. It will never be the same again.”

From midday yesterday Wendy and her sons were left outside in the rain while the contractors scrambled to turn off the water. Inspectors arrived just before 3pm to check the damage.

“They wouldn’t let us back in the house and we were left standing outside in the pouring rain,” the mother-of-two said. “Neighbours have been bringing us cups of tea, but the kids are devastated. It took them hours to get the inspector out here.”

The family were put up in a hotel last night but before they left workers had cleared the house and promised they would be back at 8am today to start the repair work.

“We are full board at the hotel and we are going to get money to cover our expenses. They got us a suitcase and we managed to get some clothes together. They said the dehumidifiers would be on all night and that they would start work first thing in the morning,” Wendy added.

A Dundee City Council spokesperson said, “Contractors, Aspect, were working in the house on behalf of the council undertaking plumbing work.

“A pipe was damaged and as a result water got into the house. Immediately after that happened the contractors and subsequently Dundee City Council housing staff stopped the leak and began reinstatement work.

“Furniture was removed and the residents have been taken to a hotel until the house has been dried out and has been made habitable again.

“Meanwhile, the council is contacting both the contractors’ and the householders’ insurance companies.”

Aspect was contacted but had not commented before time of print.