A SINGLE father of two says he was miffed to see Lancaster City Council's desperation to let properties on the Ryelands Estate after being turned down for one himself.

Liam Johnson is currently looking after his two young children in private accommodation in Skerton.

However, he wants to move to a more suitable house close to his family on the Ryelands estate.

Lancaster City Council, which has launched a campaign to increase occupancy rates for council homes in less popular areas such as Ryelands, has blocked his request because of a bad debt on a house rented by his ex-wife while he was serving in the British Army.

"I want a house just down the road from my dad," said Mr Johnson: "That would make life a lot easier for me.

"I've got a lot of friends on Ryelands and my son's pre-school is on the edge of the estate.

It would help me a lot and it would take one of the empty houses off their list, but there is no talking to the council around here."

A Lancaster City Council spokesman said Mr Johnson would be able to appeal against the decision to deny him a council house.

He added: "As someone owing money against a previous council tenancy we wrote on December 11 2001 asking if there was any information he wished to present about why he should not be excluded from the council house he was living in.

"He chose not to respond.

The Council wrote again on February 5 explaining he has 21 days to appeal against the decision.

"Any review of the decision would be conducted by a senior officer, not involved in the original decision."