A DURSLEY woman is being forced to live apart from her husband after being unable to find a house.

Michelle Murray married Nicholas in April but is living in a two-bedroom maisonette in Dursley with their 12-week-old daughter Jasmine and Matthew, a 10-year-old from a previous relationship.

Nicholas is continuing to live in the room he rents in a house in Cirencester.

The couple have been unsuccessful in using the Homeseeker Plus scheme to find the three-bedroom house in Cirencester they need.

Nicholas said: "This is making Michelle more depressed than she is already, as this was not what she expected a marriage to be, us living apart and me only seeing Jasmine on my days off.

"All this is making me feel a failure as a husband and a father as we should all be together under one roof."

Nicholas has been visiting Cirencester Signpost, a charity supporting those who have issues limiting their quality of life.

A spokesman for Cirencester Signpost said: "Nick is very popular with others that come to Signpost. It is desperately sad he is unable to find a home to raise his family.

"In our charity work, we often witness the personal challenges that so many have coming up against the acute housing crisis that Cirencester has."

A spokesman for Cotswold District Council said: "We offer a comprehensive housing advice service and should the couple wish to explore further options they should contact the housing team to arrange an appointment.

"Social rented accommodation is a scare resource in any location and applicants are encouraged to bid for a property in several areas to maximise their likelihood of being successful.

"While there have only been 5 three bed properties advertised in Cirencester since March, over 60 three bed properties have been offered across the Cotswold district over the same period.”