THERE is a 'considerable' need for council housing in Ottery, according to the local authority after it was revealed that a family of six is living in a two bedroom dwelling.

THERE is a "considerable" need for council housing in Ottery, according to the local authority after it was revealed that a family of six is living in a two bedroom dwelling.

All of the Ottery's 218 East Devon District Council (EDDC) owned properties are occupied and the town boasts a 170-strong waiting list for accommodation.

Vince Sherrard, his wife Angela and their four young children (pictured) have been told they face a four to six year wait after seeking a more spacious property than the 2-bedroom Bridgefield home they have lived in since January.

Unemployed Vince, 26, said: "We have a ten-year-old, a five-year-old and a three and a half year old all sharing one room. Our two month old baby stays in mine and my wife's room. It is cramped but we just have to make do and get on with it.

"They told us that if we wanted an extension built we would have to pay for it ourselves. We can't afford that, I have had a few temporary jobs but can't find anything permanent at the moment."

An EDDC spokesman told the Herald yesterday: "It is not appropriate to comment on this specific case, but a considerable wait is quite normal. The applicant can bid for properties under our Choice Based Letting Scheme.

"There is a considerable housing need in Ottery. The town is not particularly unique, we have a housing need across the whole district. The total on the Housing Register (waiting list) in East Devon is around 4,300.

"EDDC owns 218 homes in the town, all of which are occupied and 170 households are on the waiting list. The demand is fairly evenly spread across one, two and three bedroom needs - so smaller households as well as family-size accommodation.