9:40AM, Wed Aug 8, 2012

Ant Infestation Reveals 'Huge' Cracks In Gosforth Great Park Home

By Andy Hughes Location: Great Park

Video: Ant infestation in luxury home

A family is demanding action after thousands of ants infested their home by climbing through cracks in the floor.

Phil and Andrea Bell said they were “horrified” when they found the insects in the hallway of their £275,000 home on the Melbury development in Great Park, Newcastle.

When the couple lifted up the carpets to see where the ants had come from, they found two huge cracks running up the hallway.

Andrea Bell said: "I felt sick. This confirms our worst fears about this house."

The Bells own one of several homes on the exclusive estate which have been built illegally – without the correct building procedures being followed.

In January 2012 an investigation by Newcastle City Council showed that the developer, Bryant Homes, now known as Taylor Wimpey, failed to apply for Building Regulations Approval, as required by law.

This meant council building officers did not carry out the proper inspections, which, the Bells claim, is the reason their home has a "catalogue of defects".

After this was realised a retrospective application was submitted and the Bells were reassured this made their home "legal".

Mr and Mrs Bell hired a private surveyor who identified more than 50 flaws in their semi-detached property. The couple claim the cost of repairing these faults could reach £50,000.

They include cracked walls, shoddy brickwork and asymmetrical floors.

In February 2012 Nick Forbes, leader of Newcastle City Council, said: "It is time for the council to realise that mistakes have been made and we need to learn from these mistakes.

"I’ve personally been in touch with the Bell family, who have been through hell, and we’re working with the building developers to come to a resolution for them."

Taylor Wimpey was unavailable for comment.