A FAMILY say they are trapped in a one bedroom bungalow because of a young mum’s disability.

George and Samantha Titterton, who have a four-month-old son, said the small property built for a pensioner has left them struggling to cope.

The couple have been told that family properties suitable for Samantha’s wheelchair, which would also have room for baby Jack, are in short supply.

The young mum, who has been a paraplegic since an accident three years ago, has to have a special hospital bed which takes up much of the small bedroom.

In order to look after her son, she also needs a specially adapted cot for him. However there is no room in the Gloucester Avenue property in Clayton-le-Moors.

Samantha, 23, said she does not know what to do now that Jack has grown too big for his Moses basket.

She said: “It’s very bad because the kitchen isn’t even adapted, which means George has to do everything. It’s not independent living. I just want to be able to look after my son with a proper cot I can use, and be able to move around properly.”

The couple are also trying to apply for properties in Blackburn, to be closer to family support, but say they are being ‘passed from pillar to post’.

George, 23, who has given up work to care for Samantha and Jack full time, said: “We’ve been trying to apply for a suitable place since we first knew she was pregnant. I was amazed when I applied to be told we were only classed as ‘band four’ priority. That is the same level as someone who has no particular need to move, but just feels like it.

“I’ve battled to get us reclassified to band three, then band two through hours on the phone. To me, Sam should be top priority.

“Ironically, people with a spare room are being given top priority because of the bedroom tax. Yet we can’t move out of our one bedroom.”

The couple met one year after Samantha’s accident, when she was meeting friends at the Havelock Inn on Hallowe’en.

Samantha said: “My chair was all decorated for Hallowe’en and he kept coming over. I said to him, ‘Do you see the girl or the chair - and he said ‘I see the person’.”

Ian Clark, Twin Valley Homes’ managing director, said: “We can empathise with the couple as it would appear they do need a larger property.

“But as both Hyndburn Homes and Twin Valley Homes are both part of the B-with-us lettings scheme, applicants are eligible to bid for properties across Pennine Lancashire.

“Also, the couple have very specific needs and suitable properties, which could be adapted, don’t become available very often but we would urge them to keep bidding.”