THREE residents of a private caravan site in Risca say they are desperate to be rehoused.

Debbie Francis, Kevin Jones and Garfield Alan Jeffries have all been living in mobile homes at Risca Caravan Site, off Commercial Road, for at least ten years.

They say they now have no water at the site. Environmental health officers visited it last week and Caerphilly council is holding a meeting next week to consider the next step.

But the residents say they urgently want to be rehoused by the council. Miss Francis, who is 39 and suffers from depression and a liver condition, said they have to draw water from a standpipe on the site to flush their toilets.

"I have to go to the launderette to do the washing and have showers at relatives' houses," she said.

Mr Jeffries, who is 59 and has lived at the privately owned site for 15 years, says he suffers from emphysema and that his health has deteriorated over the winter months.

He told the Argus this week: "I have to go to the caf for breakfast and get my evening meal at the chip shop or caf."

On Tuesday Mr Jeffries was admitted to the Royal Gwent Hospital, in Newport, where he is now receiving treatment.

A spokesman for Caerphilly council said: "We cannot comment on any individual's personal circumstances. But the council is aware of the concerns surrounding this site and a meeting is due to take place next week to discuss options for the future."

The owner of the site, Sean Essex, said he bought the caravan park at an auction last summer.

"I bought it unseen and it was in a very poor state state then," he said. Mr Essex, who lives in Wolverhampton, said he had had problems finding a manager for the site.

He said he was unaware the residents were without water, but he admitted there was a problem with the sewer system on the site.

He said once residents have been rehoused he is planning to get rid of the old mobile homes and redevelop the site, and put in a new road, new sewer system and 13 new caravans.

"Once all the work is done there is no problem if these residents want to come back. They are lovely people," he added.