LEONARD Stanley parents John and Rachel Williams say they have been left in limbo because Stroud District Council may demolish their home - just months after they spent £30,000 on improvements.

The couple moved to their Mankley Road home from Bristol in June last year with their children Nathaniel, nine, Ehlana, seven and Abigail, 10 months.

But in November, the council announced the results of its survey of the 102 Woolaway homes in the district, concluding that they had serious structural issues.

Most Woolaway homes, which were pre-fabricated from steel frames and concrete in the 1950s, are council-owned.

Because of the way they were produced the steel is now eroding and housing chiefs say they do not have the money to carry out the necessary major repair work.

The house the Williams family now live in was bought under the right to buy scheme and has been rebuilt in brick to make it safe but adjoins another privately-owned home which is still subject to the structural problems.

"We purchased our house in Leonard Stanley last year and moved in over the summer, before any consultation took place," said Mr Stanley, 39.

"We wanted our son, who has serious heart problems, to grow up in the country rather than in a city.

"Now we find we may lose our home, which we have spent about £30,000 doing up.

"We cannot afford to buy any other property in the village, so if the compulsory purchase goes through we will have to move away, disrupting our children's lives yet again, and we will find it difficult to purchase a house of a similar size.

"Our family life is stressful enough looking after out disabled son without this hanging over our heads."

Demolition is one of several options currently under discussion.

Residents are being asked to vote on their preferred course of action and a final decision is expected in the autumn.

Stroud District Council spokesman Ruth Kirkup said: "The future of the Woolaway properties in Leonard Stanley has yet to be decided.

"We are currently working with residents in Minchinhampton and Stonehouse on their Woolaway homes, which have half the anticipated lifespan of those in Leonard Stanley.

"If, and that's a big if, any privately-owned properties need to be demolished, they will be bought at market value via compulsory purchase orders.

Any substantial improvements to homes will consequently have an impact on their value."