A mother and her four children have been left homeless after they were evicted from council-owned temporary accommodation.

Nyla Rehman and her children, who are from High Wycombe, had been living at Saunderton Lodge, which is owned and managed by Wycombe District Council until they were evicted over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Mrs Rehman had been forced to rush to Manchester to look after her brother’s children while he flew back to Pakistan because they father had fallen ill.

At the end of the weekend, when the family returned to the Lodge, they found that they had been evicted and that the locks had been changed – leaving them nowhere to go.

Mrs Rehman’s husband Ataf, who is currently living separately in a small room in Maidenhead, said his family should not be punished because of a family emergency.

He said: “My wife was so stressed out and upset, she forgot to inform Saunderton Lodge that she had to go away. When she returned after the Bank Holiday, she found she had been evicted because the council said that it looked like no one was living there.

“Her only mistake was that she forgot to tell them she was going, but she was so upset at the time and it slipped her mind. Where are they supposed to live? They have nowhere else to go.”

The family have had to involved Wycombe Homeless Connection and social services to help them find somewhere to live, and Mrs Rehman and her children and currently staying with family.

However, an appeal against their eviction has now been refused by the district council.

Mr Rehman said: “It just doesn’t make any sense. The council has basically told us to stick it where the sun doesn’t shine.”

Zia Ullah, a community advocate who is helping the family, said the council’s treatment of the family has been “awful”.

He said: “I can’t understand why the council are taking this position – it beggars belief. Irrespective of the fact there was a family emergency, it was a Bank Holiday weekend and it is not unusual that Nyla and the children would not be at the lodge.

“This is a decision that was not thought through at all. What happens to the family now? It is disgraceful.”

Wycombe District Council spokesman, Catherine Spalton, said: “Saunderdon Lodge provides a temporary home to people who have been made homeless, while we find them more suitable, long-term accommodation.

“Due to the nature of the housing provision at Saunderton Lodge – and the high demand on it – we ask that anyone staying in it makes the hostel manager aware if they are going to be away for any period of time.

“Unfortunately in this instance, the manager wasn’t made aware and as such, took steps to secure the unit. Tenants do have a right to request a review of these decisions, which Mrs Rehman has done.”