A WOMAN battling a rare type of cancer has pleaded with a council to help her find a home after she was left sofa surfing.

Janine Smith, 57, privately rented a flat in Church Street, Maldon, for more than seven years.

In January she was asked to leave the address by May so the flat could be used by the landlord.

She contacted Maldon District Council to ask for help to find a new home.

But just weeks later Mrs Smith, pictured right, was diagnosed with anal cancer.

The cancer is so rare just 1,200 people are diagnosed with the condition each year in the UK.

Following her diagnosis in April, Mrs Smith again sought help from the council but has only been offered accommodation in Suffolk.

As a result she has turned to family and friends who have let her stay with them.

Mrs Smith said she did not want to move from the Maldon area while she is receiving treatment as she is unable to get about by herself due to the illness.

She said: “I didn’t think I was going to be ill so I was OK with [leaving the flat].

“My treatment didn’t start until June 4, because it was rare so they had to do a lot of tests and scans.”

At one point, her treatment involved six weeks of chemotherapy and radiotherapy every day.

“I finished it three weeks ago and I still don’t know if the cancer’s gone,” she said.

“I’ve gone back to sofa surfing and all this travelling and stress is really not helping my recovery.

“I have three grown-up children but they all have their own families.

“They’ve put me on the bidding list, but the houses are in Suffolk and Lowestoft.

“I’m really ill and I don’t know if I’m going to get any better.

“My support network is in Maldon, I can’t be too far away from them as I can’t do anything myself.

“Some of the councillors have taken up my calls and they’ll have a meeting about my case.

“I feel so incredibly desperate to find a home, but I need some help as the council do not seem to understand my situation despite having all the necessary medical evidence.”

Maldon District Council implemented the Homelessness Reduction Act earlier this year.

It means the council has a statutory duty to prevent homelessness where it can by helping people keep their home or helping them find another one.

The council website said: “This helps reduce the upset and disruption caused by homelessness and reduces the demand for the very limited supply of affordable homes in the district.”

Paul Dodson, director of strategy, performance and governance at the council, said: “The council is unable to provide comment on individual cases.

“We are sorry to hear of the housing issues faced by this person but we would assure you that the housing options team always work to prevent or address homelessness where possible in line with current legislation.”