A dad takes care of his blind and terminally-ill wife and their sick son has told how the family is stuck in a cramped two-bed bungalow that doesn't meet their needs.
James Burke, 30, looks after his wife Natasha, who is in a wheelchair, and their five-year-old son Alfie, who has a brain tumour, at their small home in Ellesmere Port, Liverpool.
He was placed on the lowest-priority batch of new homes list despite two occupational experts advised him of urgent bungalow improvements.
James said he can't park his car near his front door which makes it harder to carry Natasha, who has genetic neurofibromatosis which causes tumours to grow along nerves, from his car to the bungalow.
He told the Liverpool Echo the toilet is too high for Alfie, who is currently undergoing chemotherapy.
James is now desperately looking for a three-bed bungalow so his friends or families can come over to help out and stay overnight.
He said: "The home is too small, it's a pre-fabricated bungalow built in the war.
"We've been put on Band E, the lowest level, meaning it would take us years to get a new property.
"We have asked the council for improvements while we wait, but even that doesn't seem possible.
"It's very tough at the moment, my son has weekly chemo, so he often throws up, and my wife has to link my arm because of her blindness.
"When we go out, I have to leave my small son inside, as I take my wife to the car, and then go and get him.
"I'm trying my best to make the scenario better, but it's frustrating."
In 2017, James' car was targeted by criminals as they were threw bricks at the windows, poured acid on the car bonnet and slashed the tyres.
Councillor Richard Beacham, cabinet member for housing, regeneration and growth at Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “I was very sorry to hear about the situation faced by Mr Burke and his family earlier this week.
"I will write to the council's housing team to request a review of the case on behalf of the family."
Janet Lawton, strategic housing lead at ForHousing, said: “We have been working closely with Mr Burke and his family who are facing an extremely difficult situation.
“The family currently live in a bungalow, which has had adaptations to better meet their needs, and are now on the waiting list for a larger home.
“We will continue to work with Cheshire West and Chester Council to provide support to Mr Burke and his family.”
