A FAMILY is asking the authorities for a chance to stop their severely disabled child "from going into care".

Danny Houghton, five, is brain damaged and completely paralysed by his cerebral palsy.

He will be dependent on his parents Darren, 38, and Kerry, 33, for the rest of his life.

The family, which includes 13-month-old Louie, moved to a two-bedroom bungalow in Oregon Square, Orpington, two years ago.

Mr and Mrs Houghton wanted more space for Danny and his equipment, which includes a mobile hoist.

They were keen to convert the attic into a bedroom and bathroom so the ground-floor bathroom could become a shower room with a hoist.

And they hoped to extend the left side of the house by 1m and knock down the conservatory to make the living room and kitchen larger.

A Bromley Council planning committee rejected plans in December 2004 because the dormer windows were too big and the development was too cramped and did not fit the street scene.

The Houghtons amended their plans and council officers gave it the go-ahead but, after a site visit, councillors opted to reject it again because of the effect on the street.

Neighbour Tony White, whose property is attached to the bungalow, also objected to the development.

He said: "I have a general interest in my neighbourhood and this would have altered the character of the square.

"This was a fully open, democratic procedure and if councillors were to accept officers' recommendations they would serve no review function."

The council says it sympathises with the family's personal circumstances but cannot by law take them into account.

Mrs Houghton said: "The council just doesn't care about personal circumstances and it's all wrong."

She has given up work to become her son's full-time carer and says the family's income will not stretch to buying a bigger home.

Mrs Houghton added: "We are at our wits' end on what to do. As if our lives aren't difficult enough.

"We don't ask for handouts but often think we would be better off if we did. All we are wanting to do is to prevent our child from going into care."