A CHARFORD family of four is living in a one bedroom flat despite trying for four years to get rehoused.

Matthew Smith, aged 43, says he has to sleep on a settee in their home in Austin Road whilst partner Michelle Buckley, 25, has daughter Faye and baby Oliver with her in the bedroom.

The former soldier who claims that he is unable to work because of a degenerative spinal condition has lived in the town all his life and been a tenant of the Bromsgrove District Housing Trust and its predecessor, the District Council since 1983.

"We first applied for a house when Michelle was pregnant with Faye four years ago but nothing happened. Then 14 months ago Oliver was born but we are told that we are still not eligible for a move," said Matthew.

He said that a complaint to the Ombudsman resulted in a visit from the Housing Trust earlier this year and the offer of a two bedroom flat.

"If we accept the flat we will solve a short term problems only to create a longer term difficulty when the children get older.

"The law says that it is illegal for children over the age of six years to share a bedroom and we are told that if we take the flat we will go back to the bottom of the list for a house.

"I come from Bromsgrove and have been a tenant for many years but now I have a family of four living in a one bedroom flat we seem to be getting nowhere trying to get moved into a house."

Leah Dingley, of Bromsgrove District Housing Trust said that the family was not legally overcrowded but they were working with the family to address their housing need.

"The trust has discussed the option of a two bedroom property but the family have turned this down and wish to wait for a three bedroom home.

"We are aware that there is a shortage of large properties which is something we've been working to address since we took over the council stock last year."

She said funding was pledged to purchase land to build more homes and they were also working on the issue with private sector partners.