A SPA couple with a 10-week-old daughter claim they are forced to sleep rough in their car because they are unable to find a home.

Gordon Kenny and Sharon Maggs were evicted from their Droitwich home after running up large rent arrears.

The pair, who have another daughter, aged seven, went to Wychavon District Council in February and were put into bed and breakfast accommodation while their request was assessed. But the council claimed it could not help because the couple had made themselves intentionally homeless after failing to pay rent. They subsequently lost two appeals and were placed at a bed and breakfast in Worcester but have now returned to Droitwich and are sleeping rough in the countryside so their daughter can attend school.

Mr Kenny, 39, said: "It is absolutely disgraceful that neither Wychavon or Worcester will help us. I have been everywhere I can think of for help."

Worcester City Council claimed they left the bed and breakfast of their own accord and would need to decide whether to apply to them for housing or accept help to find somewhere to live in the private sector.

And a Wychavon spokesman said: "We have an appeals process that they have fully exhausted. In these circumstances we give advice, information and help as best we can."