A family of four is living in a wheelchair-adapted flat although they do not need its special facilities - and despite a shortage of housing for the disabled.

Tarnya and James Ticehurst have lived at their two-bedroom home in Tennyson Court, Montgomery Street, Hove, for seven years.

But now, with 13-year-old son Harry and two-year-old Willow, they have outgrown the flat and have been on the Southern Housing transfer list for years.

Meanwhile the council is desperately short of disabled-adapted flats.

Mrs Ticehurst, 39, said: "Our flat would be more than suitable for someone in a wheelchair.

"The hallways are all really wide and there are lifts.

"Inside the flat, the plug sockets have been installed high up and the light switches are lower than usual.

It's clear that there are lots of aspects of this flat adapted for a disabled person."

Mrs Ticehurst said she read about the case of window cleaner Ricky Perrin in The Argus last month.

Mr Perrin, 28, was moved between hotels, including The Grand, after losing the use of his legs in an accident.

He estimated Brighton and Hove City Council had spent more than £11,000 on high quality hotel rooms before they found him a suitable adapted home.

Mrs Ticehurst added: "I couldn't believe it. It was obviously that the guy needed somewhere like our flat and that there must be lots of disabled people waiting for homes like ours.

"We need more room so it just seems stupid not to solve two problems at the same time."

A spokeswoman for Southern Housing said: "Our records show that the flat has not been specifically built for a person with a disability.

"However, in common with all the flats at Tennyson Court, there are certain mobility features. The group is arranging for the local housing manager to visit Mrs Ticehurst next week to inspect the property."

A city council spokeswoman said: "The Ticehursts moved into the property in 2001 and are currently actively bidding to be transferred to a bigger property.

"We are awaiting confirmation from Southern Housing that the property they are in is fully adapted for use by people with disabilities.

"If that is the case, the Ticehursts will move into the highest band for transfer so that we can offer it to a disabled resident as quickly as possible.

"At the time of their move seven years ago the council was not aware this was an adapted property. The council is also working to ensure all new social housing is either adapted or can be adapted easily.

"If there are other adapted properties in this block being occupied by non-disabled people we would be keen to offer residents the opportunity to move so that we can house disabled people in the specialist accommodation they need."