A FAMILY of seven fear they may end up on the streets as the latest victims of West Dorset's affordable homes crisis.

Clare Foote and her six children have lived on Shutes Farm in Symondsbury for two and a half years.

On May 31 she received a letter from estate managers Pineapple Developments notifying her that her tenancy agreement would not be renewed, as she had hoped, at the end of July. She now fears she will not be able to find a home large enough at a reasonable rent to accommodate them all.

Mrs Foote, who has recently split up from her husband, depends on housing benefits to pay her rent.

She said that this prevents her from finding another home, as privately rented accommodation is often too expensive.

"There are no large houses in the area that will accept tenants on housing benefits," she said. "We are on the list at the West Dorset District Council housing association but it's unlikely that even a four-bed home will come up, and that's not even big enough.

"I am very desperate; if they decide to go ahead I could face being chucked out by the bailiffs."

Mrs Foote and her six children have been renovating the property over the past two-and-a-half years.

This week Mrs Foote was told she could now stay in the house until suitable accommodation can be found.

However, it is doubtful as to whether a large enough house will be available.

Fiona Bridgman, property manager at Pineapple Developments, said that while they did not comment on individual cases the family was not being evicted but had been told in February that their short hold tenancy agreement would end.

"Given that the council has not had much time to find them somewhere to live we are honouring their situation and allowing them to stay on until the council can re-house them."

She said the lease had come to an end for estate reasons.

West Dorset District Council head of housing Geoff Joy said: "After our housing officers spoke to Mrs Foote we contacted her current landlord who agreed that her family could stay in their current home longer while suitable alternative accommodation is sought.

"We don't have any six-bedroomed properties to offer, but we are doing our best to find the family a suitable home from the limited stock available to us."