A YORK mum-of-six has been sent hate mail after her story was "blown out of all proportion" by sections of the national press.

Vikki Ledger has been vilified by some papers after the Evening Press revealed she wanted a bigger house for her family of eight.

That will mushroom to ten when Vikki, 35, has twins in April, so she called on City of York Council to move her from a three-bedroom home to a four-bed property.

But her demand led to criticism about her large family, the widescreen television in her house, and the family's £360 a week benefits' income.

One newspaper columnist backed York MP Hugh Bayley for Prime Minister after he said Vikki must take responsibility for her actions.

A letter in the Evening Press branded her a "complete scrounger" who should expect no sympathy.

Photographers hung around outside her house, anonymous neighbours posted hate mail and Vikki said she felt like a prisoner in her home.

She has contacted the police over the letters, and officers confirmed they are investigating her complaint.

Vikki has seen a lawyer over allegations made in one tabloid paper, which branded her a "scummy mummy", and quoted an unnamed Chapelfields resident hitting out at the behaviour of her kids.

Vikki, of Bridle Way, said that story was a "pack of lies" and the time had come to put the record straight.

She said if everything the articles said were true the council would have booted them out long ago.

"I had to bring the kids home early from school because of the photographers waiting outside," recalled Vikki, who is on Incapacity Benefit and suffers from depression.

"I've not been able to take the bins out, I had to go shopping at midnight and I've started getting hate mail.

" I've been in a right state all week. I never expected this reaction."

She added: "The papers do not know the circumstances about how I got my television and the DVD was £28.

"They criticise my dcor, but what would they say if the house was a mess?

"It's all been blown out of proportion.

"All I'm trying to do is get the best for my children."

Vikki said that criticism of her "sponging" benefits lifestyle was misleading.

"Up until two years ago when I got post-natal depression, I had always worked.

"I worked in sales for Scottish Power and for Argos."

Vikki said although her partner, Gary, had been out of work for a year, he worked from the age of 14 at his dad's Strensall scrapyard. She said that despite reports to the contrary the couple have no plans for Gary's two children to move in with them, if they get a bigger house.

Updated: 10:54 Saturday, December 11, 2004