A disabled council tenant who has served both his country and community is one of the first victims of the “bedroom tax”.

Philip Doyle moved into a two-bedroom flat in Whitehawk, Brighton, in 1997 when Brighton and Hove City Council was pleading with people to relocate to the area.

But more than 15 years on, he says he will be moved out of his specially-adapted house as the Government’s new policy of cutting benefits for under-occupation takes hold.

Mr Doyle, 54, who was in the Royal Navy and now lives in Kestrel Court in Swanborough Place, said he will lose £10 a week.

As he cannot work and struggles to walk due to his worsening condition, Mr Doyle fears he will be forced to move to wherever the local authority has a spare property.

It comes as council officials began visiting estates to tell residents about their options.

Mr Doyle, who has been a tenant representative and vice chairman of a New Deal regeneration scheme to improve the estate, said: “The Government talks about Big Society. But this feels like a real kick in the teeth.

“I have broken my back twice and can just about walk 25 yards. I looked into getting a disabled bungalow or going into sheltered housing but I live above a shop and have a ramp. I do not want to be stranded.”

Up to 1,400 tenants in Brighton and Hove are expected to be affected by the policy, which is being labelled the spare room subsidy and came into force on April 1.

Advocates see it as a way of reducing the benefit bill and freeing up homes for those on the social housing waiting list.

But critics claim it will see thousands of vulnerable people moved out of properties they have called home for years.

The city council’s Green administration said it would not evict anyone due to mounting debt associated with the policy.

Officials at the local authority have since distanced themselves from this call.

On Tuesday, the GMB, which represents workers in the council’s housing team, passed a motion on Tuesday.

This said it was concerned the Green pledge would lead to staff facing disciplinary proceedings as they were not collecting rent as per their contractual terms.