THE plight of women, forced to leave their family home and start a new life after a marriage break-up, has been highlighted by the case of a 50-year-old Kidderminster divorcee.

The woman, who does not wish to be named, said because she was the "wrong age," she did not qualify for help from housing agencies and now faces a future of renting accommodation with no guarantee she would be at the same address in six months time.

She said: "My world was shattered last year when my husband left me.

"Not being able to pay the three mortgages and three endowments on the house, I was forced to sell my home and move into a rented house.

"I thought I was going to be safe and secure but my landlord is now being forced to sell the house I am renting and so I have had to find somewhere else.

"I'm worried I shall be moved on again in a few months time and have to find even more money to pay for removals and letting agents' administrative costs."

She said she was too old to take on a mortgage and had approached Wyre Forest Community Housing for help.

She said she was told: "We are not obliged to house you," because her son was now over 18.

However, she was offered two properties which were unsuitable.

She said: "Were I on supplementary benefit with several children and no job, I am sure they would find something for me, but 'unluckily' for me, I am not in that position."

She added she had contacted two housing associations and applied for accommodation but had been told she hadn't enough points to go on their waiting lists.

She said: "I am certain I am not the only woman of my age in this predicament.

"We bring up our children, then when we start to grow old our husbands go off with younger women and leave us in this mess. Where am I supposed to go?"

Tim Powell, housing needs manager with Wyre Forest Community Housing, said: "I have sympathy with her position. There are a lot of people out there in a similar position."

He said under the 1996 Housing Act, there were a number of groups of people who, though homeless, did not qualify for help with accommodation.

He added the 1988 Housing Act had also removed many legal rights for people renting and had made short-term tenancies the norm.