A FAMILY who claimed they were being terrorised on a York estate claim council housing chiefs have told them they will not be moved into permanent new accommodation elsewhere.

Rosemary and Michael Bailey say they will not be able to leave their council house in Etty Avenue, Tang Hall - despite their claims that they and their four children have been targeted in a campaign of threats and vandalism.

Housing chiefs at City of York Council say the family have been moved into temporary accommodation while their circumstances are investigated.

The Baileys claimed they had been the victim of numerous burglaries, broken windows and vandal attacks - with North Yorkshire Police confirming they had records of six attacks.

Rosemary said: "All my windows were put through and our transfer to a new house was cancelled. They (the council) said they are not going to move us at all.

"I am really down at the moment. I just can't see a way out of it. It is getting to the point where I feel like I want to leave York.

"No one has told me why there has been this change of mind. I am really angry. We are all at our wits' end."

The family has been placed in temporary accommodation before, but council chiefs had returned them to Etty Avenue because they weren't in enough danger.

Steve Waddington, the council's assistant director of community services, said: "The Bailey family have experienced problems within their local community involving antisocial behaviour.

"We have worked closely with them to try to resolve the issues and moved them into temporary accommodation in July.

"More recently, incidents were reported relating to damage to their property and the family presented themselves as homeless to the council.

"They were moved back into temporary accommodation last week while we carry out an investigation, and they will remain there until it is completed.

"This is obviously a difficult situation, not just for the Bailey family, but for their neighbours as well. In line with the council's tough stance on antisocial behaviour, we will continue to work with the family and with neighbours to try to resolve the issues."

Updated: 08:30 Tuesday, September 16, 2003