I AM writing in response to the article (Malvern Gazette, April 27) about Michelle Hill's eviction from her home after her father's recent death.

I am appalled at the way Elgar Housing work. Yes, there is a shortage of housing for families and I am sure Michelle understands this. Elgar Housing could have explained the situation and offered her a flat. Instead, I can't believe she has to re-apply to go onto the housing list due to being evicted by the same firm that will have to re-house her.

I have a daughter who lives in a very small first floor two bedroom flat with her husband and three children and according to Elgar Housing they are not even close to being re-housed. My daughter and her husband sleep on a mattress on the living room floor so I am well aware how much houses are needed. Elgar Housing's unsympathetic attitude however is no excuse.

There are very many two, three and four bedroom houses that are being occupied by elderly people both single and couples that really should be freed up for the many families that are in my daughter's predicament. We can all appreciate these houses have been their family homes for many years, but would remind them that they were once probably in the same situation, longing for a house with a garden in which they could raise families.

Elgar Housing need to concentrate on a scheme to build retirement facilities and bungalows to re-house the elderly in environments that would mean the residents feel safe and secure and give the financial assistance to meet the extra costs they would incur. In the long run this would suit both the elderly who occupy these large houses and the younger families who are stuck in flats without gardens with two, three and possibly more children.

The way these families are living takes us back to the Victorian times and was this not one of the reason for council housing?

MRS CAROLINE ALLTON, Lansdowne Close, Malvern.