A DISTRAUGHT couple say they cannot get their child out of care because they have not got the money to furnish their house.

Mother, Miss Tracey Blower, says her "heart has been broken" since her son John was taken away.

"I can't sleep at night and I'm crying all the time. I feel like there's no point in living without my baby," she said.

Miss Blower's son went into care two weeks after he was born in January because she and her partner, Mr Gordon Chapman, were homeless.

The couple have been offered a house in Whitefield, but will not be able to get John back until it is furnished.

Their case has been taken up by Bury Unemployed Workers' Centre.

"I see him five days a week, when I can hold him, but I'm not allowed to take him home unless we make the house suitable," said Miss Blower.

The couple have applied for money from social security sources but are not eligible. Their case is under review.

The couple formerly lived in Bolton where the social services said they were unable to comment on the case.

Mr Josh Walsh, from the Bury Unemployed Workers' Centre, said: "I've seen a lot of cases like this recently because it's getting more and more difficult to get support."

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