A RELIEVED mum has spoken of her gratitude to the community which rallied around when she was evicted from her flat a week before Christmas.

Shannon Taylor, from Manningtree, lost her right to work in the country.

However, members of the public offered their support while she was without a job and living in someone’s annex, while she waited for her new visa.

Shannon, 41, said: “I couldn’t have done this without the love and support of my community.

“I raised £1,118 on my GoFundMe page and had so much help from the community.”

She added: “I had total strangers help me move my furniture into storage, and a wonderful lady in Weeley who’s allowed us to live in the annex behind her house, rent-free.”

Shannon moved to the accommodation in Weeley on December 12 with with her 21-year-old son, Ayrton Vanmeter, and 15-year-old daughter, Sarah Vanmeter, who attends Manningtree High School.

They have now received a family visa.

Both Mrs Taylor and her son, Ayrton, have restarted working at the Co-op, in Riverside Avenue East.

She said: “We feel so relieved but still a bit unsettled at the moment. I’m sure we will feel back to normal when we find a place to live.