WORCESTER City Council has been rapped by an independent watchdog for its treatment of a nearly-blind man over a housing dispute - ordering an apology and £250 compensation.

The Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) has ticked off the authority after the mystery man, known as 'Mr D', said his eyesight problems had not been considered properly when trying to get a social housing property.

In January 2013 the man, who is "severely visually impaired", tried to get a two-bed property from the city's housing service.

He told them despite being single, he'd like an extra bed for his sister, so she could occasionally stay over, but was told he'd only be considered for a one-bedder.

The ombudsman said the council should have told him he could appeal that decision, despite it being unlikely to change the outcome.

Most people bid for housing online, and for those with disabilities the council offers to help in-person at one of its offices.

According to the Ombudsman's report, fault was again found with the council for not clarifying in January 2013 what help he needed or "what help was available".

The outcome was that Mr D did not bid for any properties for the first couple of months, with the Ombudsman citing "some lost opportunity and uncertainty".

For several months after that a care worker helped him make bids, until November 2013, when he no longer had one.

The city council then stepped in to assist him fortnightly, but the Ombudsman said this help should have been made weekly, and found fault on that aspect of the service too.

An investigator on behalf of the Ombudsman also found council staff were at fault "for not discussing details of each potential direct match" during the process.

Under general council rules once a direct offer is made, a property-hunter cannot also bid for other advertised properties on the social housing register.

The Ombudsman believed that Mr D deserved a better service.

The recommendations from the LGO included paying him £250 compensation, an apology, and a review of the council's procedures.

The authority was also told to discuss all potential housing offers with him before they go 'live', minimising any periods on which he cannot bid for other properties.

The man's identity has not been revealed, but he was believed to have finally found a property several weeks ago.

A new council report has revealed that four complaints were made to the LGO in the first six months of the 2015/16 financial year from April to September - and Mr D's case was the only one upheld.

Overall, during that six-month period the city council had 125 complaints, compared to 120 in the same half of 2014/15.

The findings were discussed during a meeting of the performance, management and budget scrutiny committee.

Lesley Meagher, the council's corporate director for resources, said: "There was a list of recommendations from the Ombudsman, and these have all been actioned."

Helen Frances, strategy and transformation service manager, said the overall numbers of complaints "are very low".

* A full copy of the Ombudsman's report can be viewed HERE.