A COUPLE will move into a purpose-built bungalow this week ending their struggle to care for their disabled children in a cramped terraced house.

The move comes after Helen Blackburn and partner Alistair Howe appealed to Wear Valley District Council for a cut-price land deal to build the £125,000 home.

The four-bedroom bungalow at Lynndale, in Wolsingham, includes wheelchair access and specialist equipment.

It will make a significant difference for the couple and their two sons, who had been living in a terraced house in Wolsingham.

James, nine, is autistic, epileptic and has learning difficulties, and is looking forward to inviting friends home for the first time and his first party.

Six-year-old Jake, suffers from cerebral palsy, quadriplegic, epileptic and blind, and was the inspiration for Weardale children's charity Independence 4 Disability, founded by his parents.

Ms Blackburn said: "It is exciting to see the building and that we will be moving in soon. It really is going to make a huge difference to our lives and we will now have the living space that a family in our circumstances should have.

"We are not taking this fabulous new home for granted and realise that there are other families who are experiencing similar circumstances as ours. Our wish is to encourage all local authorities and developers to help other families particularly in the dales."

A partnership agreement means Three Rivers Housing Group provided funding, design and development expertise for the build, while leasing land from the council.

It was designed to Lifetime Homes Standards to achieve an Eco-Homes rating of very good, meaning it costs less to heat in winter and stays cooler in summer.

The home was also built using the beco wallform system to help reduce construction time, site set-up and supervision costs.

David Brown, development and regeneration manager at Three Rivers, said: "The new bungalow has been designed so that it can be adapted for specific needs.

"All the family's individual circumstances have been taken into consideration throughout the initial design stages and we are very happy to help them move into a more spacious and comfortable living environment."