A TENANT who had a bomb at his house is set to be evicted - despite being bedridden with a terminal illness.

Landlord Hyndburn Homes is attempting to evict seriously ill tenant James Gibbons from his home in Huncoat after a string of incidents.

The most serious saw 63-year-old Mr Gibbons' stepson Michael Tillotson, 26, convicted of making a nail bomb at the terraced property in Windermere Avenue.

Mr Gibbons was not charged for having the bomb at his home, but in court last month he was slammed by Judge Beverley Lunt who said he "had got away with it".

The court was told that charges were not being brought against him because of his poor health.

Police believe the bomb, made by filling a baby milk powder tin with fireworks, nails and screws, was to be used against his ex-wife Carol Tillotson, who lived in Blackburn.

Fifty people were evacuated after the device was discovered by officers last summer.

Following the court case, staff at Hyndburn Homes are preparing a possession order which could be in front of a judge next month.

Mr Gibbons said that "no judge in the country" would evict a man as ill as he is.

He is bedridden with emphysema and a series of other ailments. He says that he has less than two years to live.

But Hyndburn Homes' neighbourhood housing manager Dave Perry said that the fact Mr Gibbons was sick did not affect the eviction proceedings.

Mr Perry said: "It makes no difference to us that he is ill.

"What is important is that there was a bomb at his property and he put lives at risk.

"Although he wasn't charged it is his responsibility for what happens at the property.

"There is also other anti-social behaviour at the house and something needs to be done.

"We have a responsibility to other residents on the estate. There are children in that area and he put their lives in danger."

Mr Gibbons said that he had done nothing wrong.

And he said: "What on earth would I do if I was evicted? "I am very sick and I can't imagine there is any way a judge could possibly agree to kick me out of my home.

"I'm no danger to my neighbours and I'm not causing problems. Hyndburn Homes are merciless."

Huncoat community beat manger PC Maxine Bolton said that she and fellow officers had been in meetings with Hyndburn Homes for "some time" about the case.