A MAN who was ordered to leave his council flat with his wife and their 15 dogs says he will go on hunger strike if nothing is done to help them find a new home.

Peter Bowman, 39, of Burnley Close, Blackburn, says his wife Beatrice's mental health has worsened since a possession order on their flat was granted to Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council last week.

The Bowmans were given 56 days to leave their flat.

The council offered to assist them with finding a new place to live, although they stressed they could not house the couple's dogs.

Mr Bowman said: "If we cannot find somewhere to live then I will go on hunger strike. We have nowhere to go and I am worried about my wife.

"Her mental health is getting worse, especially since the court case. We are now being treated as outcasts - people are coming up to us in the street and saying that we smell.

"The council have done nothing to help us and we refuse to part with any of our dogs because my wife sees them as her family.

"It may be that we have to move right out of the North West and maybe go as far as Scotland.

"If we were given more time, we could save up and get a caravan and just disappear with our dogs."

A council spokeswoman said: "If the couple presented themselves as homeless, we would be obliged to consider their needs. However we would not be obliged to provide accommodation for dogs."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.