A FATHER claims his wife and twin daughters are being forced to leave their home because of structural damage caused by a nearby development.

Mr Terry Jones says that since the Irwell Valley Housing Association began building flats nearby, his property has been hit by cracks and dampness

Now, his pregnant wife Hazel (25), and two-year-old twins Vicki and Lauren are leaving the home in Wolsey Street, Radcliffe because of the problems.

He has even offered to sell the house to the Association so that the family can make a fresh start elsewhere.

Mr Jones (35), said: "It's not a place where we can raise our family any more." He claims that piledriving at the former Britannia Mill site, where the flats development is taking place, was responsible for causing the cracks at his own home.

"During the piledriving, our house shook violently. Later, cracks appeared at the back and front. They run right around the house to the adjoining property," he said.

"Now, on top of that, I've got dampness in the lounge and upstairs. It seems the gable wall has actually moved and the splitting caused cracks which let water in."

He added: "The whole house seems to have moved. I've now offered to sell the house to the Association."

Mr Jones also claims that the company put up climbing plants on his gable end without his permission.

He responded by removing them and daubing a "Private, keep off" sign on the wall.

Mr Jones continued: "Things are getting worse. That's why I've offered to sell the house to the Association. It's getting that desperate and we can't bring kids up here."

Mr Phil Summers, Irwell Valley Housing Association director of development, said he was unaware of the piledriving complaints.

"This is the first we've heard of this. We certainly haven't been asked to inspect the gable end wall. We have no record of such a complaint.

"As far as the climbers are concerned, they weren't actually put up his wall. They had been planted in the ground up to the side of his wall."

Asked if the Association would take up the offer to buy Mr Jones's property, he added: "If we had the money, we'd buy it. But it's all a matter of getting the required funds."