A family of six who were evicted from their home for not paying their rent have been temporarily rehoused in a motorway service station on the M4.

Stuart Murphy, his wife Catherine and their four children, were given a room at the Welcome Lodge services, in Sarn, Bridgend, by Cardiff Council after falling into rent arrears.

The service station is on junction 36 of the M4

They have been living in a large family room for the last three months because no home could be found in the city.

So far, the bill for the bed and breakfast accommodation - which is 20 miles from Cardiff - has reached �3,360.

Mr Murphy said that the living arrangements were affecting family life.

"It might seem like a bit of luxury but we are all living in one room and it is getting a bit too much," he said.

"The constant roar of traffic is getting on everyone's nerves and there are no places for the children to play," he said.

We are cooped up in the room the whole time

Stuart Murphy, father of four

The couple share the room with their children, Jamie, 11, Aaron, seven, Elizabeth, five, and two-year-old Michael.

The only kitchen utensils the couple have access to are a kettle, a toaster and a microwave.

"We have not been able to send the children to school and we are cooped up in the room the whole time," said Mr Murphy.

The family's problems began when Mr Murphy lost his bakery job because of illness.

After falling behind with the rent, the family were evicted and placed in a second home.

We agreed to provide temporary accommodation while we help the family find private housing

Spokesman, Cardiff council

However, they were evicted again for rent failure.

The council were forced to help, despite the couple becoming "intentionally homeless", because of a duty of care towards the children.

A spokesman for the council said: "There is a real shortage of temporary accommodation and we are having to house people outside the city.

"We have housed the family in the Welcome Lodge because we did not want to find them anywhere substandard.

"We agreed to provide temporary bed and breakfast accommodation while we help the family find private housing.

"They should not be there much longer," he added.