Helping hand for Brian (From The Bolton News)

Helping hand for Brian

A DISABLED war hero who says he has been a prisoner in his own home for almost two months has finally been handed a lifeline.

Brian Houghton, 66, has been unable to leave his flat at Three Nooks, Clayton Brook, following months of building work right on his doorstep.

The situation became so bad that only last week ambulance crews were forced to park hundreds of yards away when he had to be rushed to hospital after suffering from severe dehydration.

After serving as a staff sergeant with the Royal Engineers in Korea in 1953, Brian suffered a fractured skull in an horrific road accident, leaving him virtually wheelchair-bound with severe pains in his head and legs.

Specialist doctors have described his on-going condition as extremely rare, and an operation to drain fluid from his nose is planned for early next year.

But now after hearing of Brian's ordeal, sympathetic bosses from North British Housing Association, from whom he rents the flat, have finally come to his rescue, offering to rehouse him free of charge.

Yet, Brian says he does not want to move - but simply wants his independence.

Brian explained: "I've been a prisoner in my own home for two months now.

"The problem is that I can't get my mobility car close to my flat because of all the work. It's like living right in the middle of a building site.

"But, I don't want to leave - after all, this is my home. All I want is to be able to park my car closer to the flat so I can get about under my own steam."

Mick Woodburn, housing manager for North British, said: "As part of the area's refurbishment, we are providing additional parking to the side of Mr Houghton's home.

"In order to carry out the work, it has been necessary to undertake extensive excavation which has unfortunately resulted in him being unable to park as closely to the building as he needs to."

He added: "We fully appreciate the serious nature of his medical condition and we have offered to temporarily move him to another property with better access, but he has declined, preferring to stay in his home.

"Once the car park is completed we have arranged to mark out one of the parking spaces as a disabled bay specifically for his use.

"We sincerely hope his operation is a success and wish him a speedy recovery."

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