WHILE flood misery has prompted many homeowners to up sticks and move on, one victim wants to relocate his entire house - five yards up the hill.

Don Songhurst has owned his cottage in Eckington, near Pershore, for seven years and has applied to Wychavon District Council for permission to take down the property and rebuild it out of the flood plains.

"The water went very near it last year and went in the year before," he said.

"This flooding seems to be pretty permanent now and, since I've got to rebuild, I may as well move it about five yards and make it safer.

"The house is a ruin at the moment. I applied before for an extension and that was granted but there's no point. If I can move it, I will."

Wychavon District Council's planning department is currently looking into Mr Songhurst's application.

"It is an unusual application. We do occasionally get applications to relocate but most of them want to build an entirely new, different house," said planning officer Gavin Greenhow.

"The house is currently just within the flood plain."

Despite the severe floods of recent years, Wychavon District Council has not had any similar applications to relocate within short distances, but is considering that it may need to prepare for similar applications if owners feel they will struggle to sell on.

"This is an aspect we need to look into," added Mr Greenhow.

"This may be the first of many relocation applications for flood reasons, but I doubt that many people will want to dismantle their house, move it and then rebuild it the same. This case is unusual in that."

The application will be discussed at a future meeting.