A worried pensioner has told how work carried out by council contractors left her dog bringing up blood.

Janet Johnson was visited by maintenance staff after complaining about mould in her bungalow in Fisher Road, Canterbury.

But when Mears - which looks after the city council's housing stock - sprayed a treatment on the walls, the 66-year-old says she began feeling unwell.

She was then alarmed to find her 13-year-old Jack Russell Sally was bleeding from the nose.

East Kent Housing (EKH), which manages the property, has since apologised and says it is now reviewing the way it deals with mould.

Ms Johnson said: “The spray was really strong. Even the workmen couldn’t stand it - they had face masks on and kept going out when they were using it.

“They sprayed the stuff in the lounge area, but the bungalow's a studio with the bedroom area sectioned off.

“So I kept the windows open for a reasonable amount of time, but I don’t sleep with them open because there are crooks around.

“When I went to bed, I found my eyes were watery and stinging and my face was red.

"I couldn’t open my eyes. I had to keep jumping out of bed to put water on them.

“Then Sally started to get very ill - I found her not as she should be.

"She usually plays with her teddy and is very lively, but she didn’t seem to want to do that.”

The next day Ms Johnson, who lives alone, noticed Sally was bleeding from her nose.

“She was sneezing and bringing up blood,” said Ms Johnson.

“It was a scary thing. I’ve never seen her like that before.

"She’s very special to me and if I lost her I’d be very, very upset.”

EKH promptly moved the pair into a bed and breakfast in New Dover Road for three nights.

But Sally’s condition had not improved when they were to be moved back into their bungalow - and Mears took her to the vets and picked up the bill.

“The vet found ulcers in her nose and throat,” said Ms Johnson.

"She was sneezing and bringing up blood... it was a scary thing, I've never seen her like that before" - Janet Johnson

“She was given some capsules to take.

Ms Johnson praised the Mears employees that took Sally to the vets, paid for her bill and helped administer her medicine.

“The ladies from Mears who helped us have been great.

“Sally’s still sneezing a bit, but there’s no blood now. I feel much better.”

An EKH spokesman said: “East Kent Housing and our contractor Mears have apologised for any physical discomfort and inconvenience caused by the work to treat a small amount of mould in a property in Fisher Road.

“Mears opened the windows to ventilate the property and the resident was asked to keep them open for as long as she could.

"As soon as EKH was told the occupant had suffered an allergic reaction, the decision was taken to put her up at our expense in a nearby bed and breakfast on Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday night.

“We are keen to understand how this work affected the resident’s dog and will be contacting her for more information.

“We are reviewing the way we carry out this type of work to minimise the possibility of allergic reactions in the future.”

“Mears decided to take the dog to the vet and paid the bill.

“They have been helping our tenant administer the medicine that was prescribed in the mornings and evenings.”