THE mother of a three-year-old autistic boy claims she's living a nightmare because she cannot stop her son climbing through the windows of her council home.

Claire Faulkner, of Coed Eva, Cwmbran, claims officers have told her the only way to solve the problem is to put her name down on the transfer list for a more suitable property.

"Austic children do not handle change very well, and the upheaval of a move would pose major problems, plus we'd have to wait for something to come up anyway," said Mrs Faulkner, 27.

She also claims her son Kian's asthma is seriously aggravated by an ongoing condensation problem in her house in Tolpath.

"I have had officers round to look at the windows and I have been told there is nothing that can be done because the council doesn't have the money," she said.

The mother of two claims one officer told her to send a doctor's note to the housing department, but she said this has had no effect.

She added: "All you have to do is push a button and the window opens. If he gets out he'll be off within seconds.

"It's a nightmare, I am terrified of him getting out and running on to the road. I can't watch him every single minute of the day - it's not possible."

Kian also regularly throws objects at the windows.

Mrs Faulkner and her husband, Colin, asked the council to fit lockable double-glazing which Kian cannot open, but she claims council officers told her the rest of the street would have to be fitted with the same windows, which the council cannot afford.

But Mrs Faulkner claims her social worker is backing her case for new windows to be fitted.

A Torfaen council spokesman said officers were still looking at Mrs Faulkner's case.

He added: "The council is sending an offer today to make improvements which will address the recent recommendations regarding condensation and safety."