MAJOR refurbishment works at a caravan park have hospitalised a child and left occupants facing living in a house for the first time in their lives.

West Berkshire Council (WBC) is currently working on sprucing up the Four Houses Corner Caravan site in Ufton Nervet, south of Reading.

As residents move on their former pitches have been dug up, leaving large holes in the middle of the site that have proved a hazard.

"We have had two young children hurt themselves," explained Sammyjo Tombs, who has lived in a caravan for all of her 29 years.

"One of the kids ran up the bank, slid back down and scraped her face. Another stubbed his toe and had to have paper stitches and glue.

"If they had had a fence there it wouldn't have happened. They said they would put fencing around it and never did."

The residents are not just unhappy about the unmarked crater however, which has served as an eye sore for two months, attracting growing numbers of rats.

There is concern throughout the community that they will be rehomed in houses, an unwanted future for people accustomed to living in static caravans.

"At the moment they are trying to move us all off, and I am speaking on behalf of everyone here," the mother of two continued.

"I have lived here my whole life. The council wants to regenerate it all and put in new bathrooms. They want to make it all nice.

"They told us we had to move into houses. When we looked into it there is a law saying they have to find you another site. I have never lived in a house my whole life. They are taking us out of our community."

A spokesman for WBC said work was ongoing and residents would be offered alternative living arrangements.

They said: “A major refurbishment of Four Houses Corner Caravan site will be taking place over the coming months and we have been working with residents on the site to find alternative accommodation while this takes place.

“As plots on the site become empty they have been dug up in preparation for the work. For vacant plots, a bund of rubble has been put in place around the sites to make it clear work has started. We have also advised families that children should be supervised to ensure their safety while we begin preparing the site.

“Some families have not yet found alternative accommodation, but we are continuing to work with them in accordance with our policies to find something which meets their needs.

"Due to a shortage of alternative pitch accommodation locally and nationally, we have offered some families temporary ‘bricks and mortar’ type accommodation. We are also supporting families if they wish to make their own arrangements.

“We accept there will be some temporary disruption for residents on the site and appreciate their understanding and flexibility during these important works.

"On their return, residents will enjoy much improved facilities including new drainage systems and utility buildings for each plot which provide a day room, bathroom and kitchen.”