Tenants say they are being “driven to distraction” by mice overrunning their home.

Caroline Payne, who lives in Cooms Walk, Burnt Oak, says the problem has been going on for four months and that despite laying down poison and traps, nothing seems to get rid of them.

The 46-year-old, who has cerebral palsy, said: “All of a sudden I could start hearing them coming through the walls. When I go into the kitchen, they dive out in front of me. Because I get a lot of pain, I am up at night and I can hear them everywhere.

“They are in the kitchen and in the lounge, and they get in my cupboards. Every time I put my plates away I have to wash them again. I cannot sleep because I worry about the hygiene. It’s driving me to distraction. I feel like I cannot live here anymore."

A former charity worker before her health deteriorated, Ms Payne says her benefits cannot cover the £134 fee for Barnet Borough Council’s environmental health team to visit.

Ms Payne, who lives with her fiancé Nicholas Sutin in the council house, believe the mice have come from a nearby building site where 20 homes are being built, and says neighbours told her they have similar problems.

She said: “I feel like it could go on for years and years. I am in favour of building more homes, but they should tell you these problems can happen as a result. People should be made aware.”

Mr Sutin, 47, said: “The smell gets really bad. When you wake up in the morning, the mouse urine is the first thing you breathe. They might be dead in the walls. I reckon if it’s not sorted soon, the place will be completely infested.”

A 70-year-old neighbour said she was also suffering from mice.

The woman, who did not want to be named, said: “The first time I saw one I nearly jumped out of my skin. I don’t understand how they are getting in, I’ve never had them before.”

A Barnet Council spokesman said the £134 fee covered three visits from environmental health to treat a mouse infestation.

In a statement, a spokesman for Barnet Homes, which manages the authority’s housing stock, said: “Although we have not had any complaints from residents in that area regarding that particular mice issue mentioned, Barnet Homes’ policy regarding individual queries on problems our tenants might be having with mice is to offer advice on how to tackle the problem and where necessary, signpost the resident to relevant pest control agencies.

“There are more details regarding this in the home advice section of our website.”