VICTIMS of a Pontypool fire say their lives are on hold and they have no idea how long they will be out of their homes more than a week after the blaze.

Jane Malson and her neighbour Carol Williams were left relying on family for shelter after fire ravaged large parts of their homes at Machine Meadows, Pontnewynydd, on Tuesday, November 5.

Ms Malson – who has been told the fire started due to an electrical fault in her bathroom – said she had no idea of the scale of damage as she had not been allowed to see if anything could be salvaged from the property she rents from Bron Afon Community Housing.

“I feel like there is no way forward at the moment. We are stuck in limbo a bit," said Ms Malson. who is now living at her mother's, along with her son and several pets.

“We are stuck in limbo a bit." she added.

“I am suffering with anxiety and doctors wanted me to go to hospital Friday with high blood pressure.

“My family have been amazing, but the situation is obviously stressful for my parents, too.

“Plus we have no internet here and limited reception. We just feel cut off.

“Really, we need private rented accommodation because of the animals.”

Ms Williams said she and her daughter, Emma, had lost everything, as she had no insurance for the valuables inside the house, which is also owned by Bron Afon.

She said: “Our lives are on hold.

“Bron Afon have been in touch every day and we have been offered a B&B – but what would I do with my cats?

“It’s not fair on my mam to leave them here.”

Both women are currently waiting for reports from loss adjusters and engineers to be carried out.

Bron Afon, in Cwmbran, has said this could take around three weeks.

Liz Evans, head of community housing at Bron Afon, said the association is looking to find the families 'suitable accommodation'.: “We are in daily contact with both families affected by the fire and are doing all that we can to try to find them suitable accommodation from our housing stock that meets their needs.

“Community housing officers and support staff will continue to offer on-going support to the families while work is being done following the fire.”