COUNCILLORS have come to the aid of a family who are fighting to be rehoused after their rented council home went up in flames.

Simon Danczuk and Mike Barrett say they are disgusted at the way Stephen and Donna Toner and their two young children have been treated by Blackburn with Darwen Council's housing department.

The family were told their only option was to move into a homeless shelter or to pay full rent on another council property.

Their home in Calder Avenue, Darwen, was severely damaged when an electrical fault caused a fire just over two weeks ago. They have been forced to stay with relatives since then.

The couple's plight has been featured in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph. They were furious when an official council press statement said they were in receipt of housing benefit and had already turned down alternative accommodation.

Donna said: "We were really annoyed when we heard what the council had said on top of all the hassle we have already had.

"I have never been out of work since leaving school and my husband gets up at 3am every morning to travel to his job."

Coun Danczuk, who represents the Earcroft ward, said: "I have been in touch with the family who are understandably very distressed about this whole affair.

"The couple are clearly not on housing benefit and it is disgraceful that a lower level housing officer saw fit to release this information.

"The family have now been offered another property until repair work is completed on their home during the next two to four weeks.

"I would like to thank the Lancashire Evening Telegraph for bringing this situation to light."

A council spokeswoman said: "The information was given in error and we would like to apologise for any misunderstanding.

"Mr Toner, our tenant, is not in receipt of housing benefit but is in fact in full-time employment."

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