A disabled mother of two who shares her bedroom with an 18-year-old son is appealing to her council for better accommodation.

Jean Young of Leicester, who uses a wheelchair, has lived in the double bedroom with her teenage son Matthew for 12 years.

She has asked for alternate council accommodation, but so far says the council has not offered her anything suitable.

"My son who is 18 has been sharing with me since we moved into the property.

'Not suitable'

"He was young then but now he is a man.

"I need my privacy and Matthew needs his privacy, and it is a violation of our human rights."

Matthew said: "I have not had the opportunity to invite friends back to my room and I would like to have my own bedroom for the privacy and space."

It is really degrading and demoralising to myself as a person

Jean Young

The council said in a statement they have had extensive discussions with Mrs Young, but an extension is not a cost-effective option.

"We don't consider it an effective use of council resources to spend more than �17,000 building an extension on to a house when we have other properties available," the statement said.

"We have offered her properties but she has not accepted".

Mrs Young, who suffers from severe arthritis, said the offers made by the council were not suitable because the doors were not wide enough to allow her wheelchair to enter.

"It is really degrading and demoralising to myself as a person.

"I don't know why disabled people have to fight so hard for a basic human right."