A CONTROVERSAL plan to create a housing estate could be the last glimmer of hope for keeping a couple and their disabled sons in the North-East dale they love.

Plans for affordable housing in St John's Chapel, Upper Weardale, County Durham, are causing concern within the village that it may attract undesirable tenants.

But for Helen Blackburn, those plans contain a purpose-built bungalow that would give her four-year-old son, Jake, and seven-year-old James, a better life.

Miss Blackburn, 36, who lives with partner Alistair Howes, and the two children, in Stockley Grove, Frosterley, said of the proposal: "This is the best news I have heard for a while.

"We've been fighting for years to get a proper home where my sons can have a more comfortable life."

Severely disabled after contracting a virus soon after birth, Jake uses a wheelchair and needs a hoist to lift him into the bath and physiotherapy equipment, but much of this will not fit into his home.

Jake's elder brother, James, is also disabled, suffering from autism.

For the past three years, Miss Blackburn and her family have pleaded with the council to move them from their temporary accommodation, which has small doors and a staircase which can be hard for Jake to negotiate, to a bungalow with more space.

The planning application put forward by Wear Valley District Council and Three Rivers Housing Association will be discussed with residents at a meeting next month, and Helen and her family are praying that locals in Upper Weardale will give their support to the scheme.

She said: "We don't know how we've lasted so long.

"The house is basically too small to cope.

"We can't even fit Jake's wheelchair through the doorways."

The couple, who were born and bred in the Dales and feared they would be forced to leave the Dales, are pinning all their hopes on this important meeting.

Miss Blackburn said: "It is important that people have their say, but this is our last chance of having home in Weardale and beyond that I can't see any way forward for my family."

A spokesman from Wear Valley council, said: "We made an agreement six months ago with Three Rivers that a bungalow for Helen Blackburn and her family would be part of the plans for St John's Chapel.