THREE families cannot swap their Winchester council homes because it would be unfair to more than 200 others who are on the waiting list, housing bosses have revealed.

Council chiefs say they have blocked the house exchange as they have a shortage of two-bedroom properties in the city.

As reported in the Daily Echo, Roger and Phyllis Wyatt want to move from their four-bedroom home in Garbett Road, Winnall to a two-bedroom home in Fromond Road, Weeke, currently occupied by Claire Fay.

Miss Fay wants to move to Tricia Chin's three-bedroom home in Imber Road, Winnall to be near her family, and Miss Chin wants to move up the road to the Wyatts' larger home.

Because Miss Fay's home has a lounge the council says it is too big for the Wyatts - who are currently living in a four-bedroom home with separate lounge.

But housing bosses at Winchester City Council say they have a shortage of two-bedroom properties and the Wyatts will have to wait until a more suitable home comes up which they will not "over-occupy".

A city council spokesman said: "We could not justify putting Mr and Mrs Wyatt in this particular house in front of 200 families who need this type of accommodation."

Winchester MP Mark Oaten has offered to step in to help the three families involved.

He said: "On the face of it, it's a shame this can't be resolved and I'm happy to try and help the families and see if anything can be done."

Relatives of the three families involved have contacted the Daily Echo about the problem.

Mr and Mrs Wyatt particularly want to move to the two-bedroom house in Fromond Road as it is close to their daughter, Pamela Skeen, 37.

She said: "It just doesn't make sense as four-bedroom houses are so hard to come by and there are so many people who need larger homes."

Claire Fay's grandmother, Muriel Bell, 73, of Imber Road, added: "I can't understand the council quite honestly. Claire has two little children and they have been trying to move for long enough."