A SPECIALIST surveyor has condemned an Atherton council house as 'unfit for human habitation'.

That's what disabled tenant Des Harper was told when he called in consultant Brian Massey because of disatisfaction with his Gloucester Street home. Now he's going to take his fight to court.

Mr Massey , who was seriously hurt in a lorry crash, lives with his pregnant wife, Lynne, and their children Benjamin, 8, and Jennifer, 3.

Desperate Des explained:"When I tried to redecorate ceilings fell in on me and plaster dropped off the walls. The stairs are rotting and now water is running down into the cupboard where the electric meter is and we've had to turn-off the power.

"My daughter suffers from asthma and the dampness is affecting her.

"The Council have done some jobs, but the workmanship is atrocious but main jobs haven't been touched."

Housing consultant Mr Massey found a string of defects - 16 internal and six external.

Now the Harpers are taking the Council to court claiming the authority is in breach of the Housing Act.

A Council spokesman said:"We had agreed to do certain work and understood Mr Harper was happy with that arrangement.

"We will fully defend our position in court.

"On several occasions workmen have called to do the work but have been unable to gain access."

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