TWO mums and their 11 children are looking forward to the new year in their new homes - thanks to a festive change of heart by Testway Housing.

The two families faced eviction by Testway Housing after Emma James, aged 23, exchanged her Testway Housing property at Galahad Close in Andover with her friend Sharon Evans, aged 31, who lived in Tintagel Close, Andover.

Emma swapped her four-bedroom house, which was home to her four children with Sharon whose three bedroom property was home to her seven children.

But Testway Housing then told the two women they didn't have permission to carry out the swap and gave them a deadline of 20 December to move back to their old homes.

What's more because the swap was not officially sanctioned they were told they had run up arrears on both their original homes.

But now thanks to a festive change of heart by Testway the tenancies of their new homes have been agreed.

Emma said: "We are really happy."

Testway housing manager Ivor Evans said: "It is correct the matter of the exchange has been resolved.

"We will be working with the tenants to solve any outstanding issues."

He pointed out both women had broken their original tenancy agreements and that Testway Housing was trying to help them. Emma's new tenancy has now been backdated to when she originally swapped in October and her rent arrears have been cleared.