A GRANDMOTHER has told how her 12-year-old grandson has been made a "prisoner in his own home" and been put in hospital after repeated attacks by bullies.

Nora Gilmore, of Seaham, County Durham, is asking her local council to rehouse her and her grandchild as a matter of urgency.

She said 12-year-old Philip Remmer had been repeatedly beaten up outside their home on the Deneside Estate and twice ended up in hospital - once with a badly damaged nose and once with a fractured hand.

Philip has learning difficulties and dyslexia and started to suffer attacks from gangs of boys of his own age after moving to the area about eight months ago.

Police have advised that he be kept indoors if unsupervised and he has to have an escort when he visits his father just ten houses away from his Queensbury Road.

Mrs Gilmore said: "Philip is a great lad and had no trouble before. It's only since he came here and I just want the council to move us so we can get on with our lives.

"I suffer from osteoporosis and can't watch him all the time, so he has become a virtual prisoner in his home. He's only 12 and he's got no life. It must be stopped."

Inspector Paul Harrison, of Peterlee police, said they were aware of the problems and were investigating.

He said: "We can never absolutely guarantee anybody's safety, but our beat officer there is making the appropriate investigations."

Easington District Council area housing manager Mark Dutton said that one of the problems was Mrs Gilmore needed a bungalow because of her physical disabilities.

He said the council's tenancy enforcement officers had made several visits to the area and contacted the parents of the bullies.

Mrs Gilmore's application had been given a higher priority because of the situation, but a suitable property needed to become available.