A mother says her family has “been left to rot” in a pest infested council estate.

Annie, who was speaking to the BBC Victoria Derbyshire programme, says cockroaches have infested her flat in the Marsh Drive estate in West Hendon, Barnet.

The mother-of-two, 28, said her ten-month-old baby was bitten on the eyelid and her daughter was also bitten.

She said on the current affairs programme: "At first I didn't say anything because I was embarrassed. I didn't even know they could bite.

She said: "When my daughter finds the cockroaches she tries to keep it quiet. She warns me there's a cockroach and she says ‘mummy, don't cry’.”

Annie, who lives in the estate with her partner and two children, told the BBC that pest control has visited the estate 25 times since the cockroaches were spotted two years ago.

She said it has got to the point where she will no longer eat in her flat due to the pest infestation.

“I physically couldn’t eat here because of the cockroaches. It made me feel sick and dirty,” Annie explained.

“They were massive, they were all on my sides, all on my counters in my microwave.”

Security concerns have also been raised by people who live in the estate, who claim that drug users go to the communal areas since the security doors do not work.

When approached for comment, Barnet Council said it was in close contact with people living in the estate and have updated them on what is being done to make things better in the short-term.

A spokesperson from the council said: “First and foremost, we are extremely sorry that a number of residents in Marsh Drive are currently living in homes that quite simply fall well below the standards we expect. We fully appreciate how difficult this must be for the residents, particularly for those with young families.

“We are addressing the problem with vermin and pest infestation, including the implementation of an extended baiting programme across the estate. Urgent works are also due to start very shortly on fixing the affected section of roof shortly, which will resolve the issue of flooding.

“Whilst this might be of little consolation to the residents, the very reason we are demolishing Marsh Drive is so that we can provide nicer homes for people to live in. The regeneration will see the construction of 2,194 new homes, and the creation of a thriving neighbourhood, made up of a mix of social, private and affordable housing, alongside a new school and community centre.

“We would like to reassure the non-secure tenants of Marsh Drive that we will do our utmost to try and find them a new home in the local area. Residents should please contact our Operations Support Team on 020 8359 4765 for any further support.”

Watch the BBC Victoria Derbyshire episode Council tenant: ‘Cockroaches bit my baby’s face’ here.