THE WIFE of a disabled man says her husband is 'a prisoner in his own home' because the access road to their house is so poorly maintained.

Sally Clayton, of Honeysuckle Row, Ribbleton, whose husband Colin became wheelchair-bound after suffering a stroke more than six years ago, is demanding the city council come to their rescue and get the road properly surfaced.

She says she cannot even push Colin to the local shops because of all the potholes and the uneven surface.

Although the authority filled the potholes with gravel last year, the retired couple, both 63, are calling on the council to foot the £60,000 bill for the road to be levelled and surfaced.

They say everytime it rains the cheap gravel mixture is washed away and they are back to square one.

Sally said: "We've been pestering the council for six years. They claim they don't have the resources. They filled in the potholes, but the moment it rains, the gravel is washed away and the work is ruined.

"They must have some kind of budget to tar the street, the situation is intolerable."

Two weeks ago the couple, who have nine grandchildren, forked out £400 -- a sum matched by their eight neighbours -- to have stones laid as a temporary re-surfacing measure. But, because the road is classed as 'unadopted', council chiefs say its maintenance and upkeep is the responsibility of the homeowners who use it.

Peter Corless, assistant director (engineering) at the council, said: "The cost of resurfacing the road would be about £60,000.

"The potholes were filled with a mixture of gravel which the council has a small budget for. But the road is not the responsibility of the council."

Mr Clayton, who used to work in the call centre at Preston Primary Care, is paralysed down his left side and unable to speak.

Despite his mobility problems the couple refuse to let his physical difficulties drive them out of their renovated 18th century coachman's cottage where they moved to in 1986 after marrying each other for a second time.

Councillor for Ribbleton ward and cabinet member for environment and sustainability, Andy Campbell, said that for the council to adopt the road it would cost about £75,000 and they do not have the resources.

Coun Campbell said: "We do assess the situation and try to help. We'll be going out in a couple of days to check that it's not got out of hand.

"Basically the residents could apply for money from the area forum, but it wouldn't be enough to cover the costs. It was their decision to move in to the property."