A DOWN'S syndrome sufferer and her niece who looks after her are facing eviction from their family home within a month.

Housing bosses are being urged to think again after ordering the pair to leave the council property in High Street, Paddock.

Gemma Murphy, 20, and her aunt Karen have lived on High Street, Paddock, for six and 12 years respectively.

But now, because Gemma's grandad, Karen's dad Kenneth, died a fortnight ago, the council say they can no longer live there.

Gemma, 20, a part-time carer at Longwood Grange Nursing Home and student of occupational therapy at Bradford University, described the situation as "disgusting".

She said being evicted would be damaging for her aunt.

She said Karen, 47, was still grieving the loss of her father.

"She's lost both her parents now - they were really close.

"She's disorientated at the moment. This has been her family home for so long."

She said her aunt, who attends a day centre at Briar Court, Lindley, had become noticeably more anxious and her doctor had prescribed her sleeping pills.

Gemma said if they are forced to leave it would further damage her aunt's health.

"She could become more disorientated, very confused and it could have physical effects as well with all the stress and there's social effects too.

"She's made some good friends round here and we have got some good neighbours.

"We have always paid our rent, we have been good neighbours, I'm sure the neighbours would be really annoyed if we were evicted and so would other carers around the country."

When Gemma's grandad died, she informed Kirklees Council.

"They told me that the property had been succeeded twice.

"I think it means it's been passed down twice in someone else's name."

It was in Gemma's grandma's name and then passed to her grandad when she died five years ago.

"It would have been in his name and because he's died they can't do it again."

She has now asked Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman for help.

Mr Sheerman told the Examiner: "We're investigating and doing our best to make sure they're looked after.

"There may be rules and regulations but in these circumstances the rules should be bent in my opinion."