Tara Anscombe and John Plumb say the damp in their lounge and kitchen has caused little Brandon-Lee to become ill.

The youngster was admitted to Scarborough Hospital with bronchitis in December.

He had suffered from chest infections which had been treated with antibiotics – but he has now been diagnosed with asthma.

Now they fear they may be stuck in the property in St Peter's Road, Whitby, for another four months until Brandon-Lee turns one.

Miss Anscombe said: "The damp was in our bedroom and they advised us to wipe it off the walls, which we did, but it won't wipe off the other walls and we will probably have to re-decorate,"

Mr Plumb, who works in a fish shop as a kitchen hand, said: "Yorkshire Coast Homes will not move us from the flat and into a house until Brandon-Lee is one as they say he does not count as a tenant until then.

"We need to be out of this one bedroom flat and into a house."

The couple have been told previously that the mould was being caused by condensation as a result of using the tumble dryer.

But Miss Anscombe said this, and the radiators, are the only means she has to dry the family's clothing.

The infant is now being treated with a steroid Salamol CFC-free inhaler.

Richard Adamson, director of housing at Yorkshire Coast Homes, said: "The couple first approached us for mould treatment last May.

"It has not been reported again until 19 January this year and we have arranged for a job assessor to go today.

"An assessor will produce a specialist report on the flat and that will determine anything we, as landlords, need to do."

The couple have lived in the rented property for four years.