STUDENT nurses living in accommodation at Watford General Hospital are facing a rent increase, despite sharing their homes with cockroaches and having to go without electricity, gas and hot water.

Nurses living in Willow House, one of several blocks of student accommodation at the hospital in Vicarage Road, claim they have complained on numerous occasions about the insect infestation but say no action has been taken.

Miss Katie Daly, 20, who moved into her room in Willow House in September, said: 'We killed four cockroaches last night Monday in the kitchen. We have got to live here for another two years, and we are living in filthy conditions.'

Miss Jenni Wenneberg, 20, who also lives in Willow House, said: 'It's disgusting. We have been complaining since September and nothing has been done.'

Two weeks ago, what was described as a major water leak caused disruption.

Miss Daly said: 'I turned on the cold tap and boiling hot water came out. But we only had hot water for two weeks. Then we had just cold water for about a week.

'We have had the gas turned off for 72 hours and, in the other side of the building, the kitchens have no electricity.

'Now they have put our rent up from £109.29 a month to £113.12.'

The news was the last straw for the students of Willow House, who wrote this week to the hospital stating their grievances and seeking a reduction in rent.

A spokesman for Watford General Hospital, defending the rent increase, which is the first in two years, said: 'A cockroach problem was reported last week. Pest control have been in twice and are going in this morning (yesterday, Thursday). We are doing our best to see this problem is eliminated.

She added the other problems were being dealt with.