The children of a mum who was found dead after going missing have been forced to sleep on their gran's sofa for six months.

Margaret Wotherspoon, 59, says her grandkids have had "no room to grieve" after they were made homeless and left to move into her one-bedroom house in Bellshill last October.

Crystal, 16, and Georgia Ramsey, 15, became orphans when their mum Lisa Wotherspoon, 37, died last year.

The single mum had vanished from her home in Motherwell on September 29. She was tragically found dead one week later following extensive police searches.

Her teenage children were then evicted from their family home and made homeless as the tenancy was in their mother's name.

Gran Margaret Wotherspoon is battling the local council for larger accommodation.
Gran Margaret Wotherspoon is battling the local council for larger accommodation.

Lisa's heartbroken mum Margaret says the family were promised a three-bed property after she took her grandchildren in.

Six months on North Lanarkshire Council has failed to deliver and their cramped living conditions have now become unbearable.

Margaret told the Record: "I feel abandoned. It's been a nightmare.

"The three of us are crammed in here. We've had no room to grieve.

"The two kids are sleeping on one sofa between them.

Gran Margaret Wotherspoon outside her one bed property she is sharing with her granddaughters.
Gran Margaret Wotherspoon outside her one bed property she is sharing with her granddaughters.

"The girls are waking up with sore backs, they can't sleep properly and they are missing a lot of school as a result.

"There are days when my blinds don't get opened because the girls can't sleep through the night, so they are falling asleep during the day from exhaustion.

"It really has become unbearable for all of us."

The family's lives turned upside down last year after 37-year-old mum Lisa went missing from her home in Motherwell on September 29. Her disappearance sparked a prominent police search after it was revealed she was a Type-1 diabetic and had gone missing without her medication.

Footage was captured of her leaving her home on Vulcan Street around 6am on Friday, September 29. During the investigation officers discovered Lisa's blood sugar monitor had a GPS signal and were able to trace her last location.

Lisa Wotherspoon
Lisa Wotherspoon

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Her body was found by police near Riverside Walk in Motherwell on Friday, October 6. Her death was not treated as suspicious.

Her loved ones said Lisa had been suffering with her mental health at the time.

Margaret said: "I knew something was seriously wrong with Lisa when she went missing. She would always be in contact with me.

"She was found after a friend realised that her blood sugar monitor had a GPS signal, and police were able to find her from her last movements.

"It has been very difficult for all of us and I've not really had time to grieve for my daughter either."

The grandmother now fears their living situation will tear up her family even more as she admitted she is struggling to cope.

Slamming North Lanarkshire Council, Margaret added: "I wasn't expecting to be caring for two teenagers. I wouldn't have it any other way than them coming to be with me, but I need some help.

Lisa with their daughter's when they were younger.
Lisa with their daughter's when they were younger.

"These girls have already lost their mum and their dad isn't with us anymore either. For them to be left living like this is disgraceful.

"I had hoped they could move on with their lives despite what has happened and get back to some sort of normal childhood.

"How can they do that while we are all trapped in here?

"We are all on top of each other and it's causing arguments.

"Crystal has said recently she wants to leave because it's too hard.

"I don't want that. I'm trying my best to keep us together."

"The council has done nothing for us. I just feel like we've been thrown out to the dogs."

North Lanarkshire Council said they were aware of the family's situation and were waiting for a suitable property to become available.

A North Lanarkshire Council spokesperson said: “We are supporting the tenant’s application for a three bedroom property in the area she has requested to live. However, the turnover of properties is very limited.

“We will continue to keep our tenant fully informed of her application’s progress and she can contact her local housing team any time to discuss her housing options.”

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