A MOURNING son faces losing his family home - because of a bureaucratic error 33 years ago.

Norman Broad has been told he has no legal right to stay in the house that he has lived in for more than 30 years.

The news follows the death of his father, who had the same name, last week.

Under the Government's inheritance rules, tenancy rights to council houses can be passed from one family member to another only once.

Because of a mistake when his parents took on the house on Regent Walk, Farnworth, in 1972, it was only registered in the name of his mother, Edith Broad. When she died 10 years ago, the family used up their inheritance rights when the home passed to her husband, Norman's dad.

The former pipe-fitter died, aged 77, after years of suffering with bronchitis, arthritis and kidney complaints.

Norman, aged 38, who runs a collectors shop in Farnworth, has even offered to buy the house at market price.

He said: "To lose my father and my home in the same week is unbearable. This is my family home and it holds so many memories for me. It just seems so wrong."

Despite being with his girlfriend of 15 years Susan Gibson from Walkden, and a nine-year-old daughter Sarah Gibson-Broad, Norman stayed with his father to help him with his health problems.

He had hoped to move his family into the three-bedroomed house, but was shocked to be told he may have to move out.

Cllr Noel Spencer, Farnworth Labour councillor and chairman of Bolton at Home, the independent group which manages Bolton's council homes, said: "Legally there is no case for him staying but I think housing managers should have a look at this to see if there are other reasons to let him stay."

A Bolton At Home spokesman said: "We are currently investigating other options for Mr Broad."