Tent family of 13 found new home

The family say the tents have been damaged by storms

A family of 13 who have been living in a tent for the past four months have been found a new home.

The Johnstone family were evicted by the Church of England from St Mark's Vicarage, in Scarisbrick, Lancashire, in February this year.

Their lease ran out last October but the family were allowed to stay as mother Karen Johnstone was pregnant.

They have now been found a home in Ormskirk but must wait for repairs to be carried out before moving in.

Mrs Johnstone said living in the tents had not been ideal.

Hail storms

"The tents aren't built to stand up to the storms we've been through and its fallen to pieces.

"We've had hail storms, thunder, lightning. We've had the kids screaming.

"The kids still went to school every day, my husband still went to work. The kids were enjoying it at first but, although they're still enjoying it, they do want to live in a house now."

Her eldest son, Santiago, 16, has also had to revise for his GCSE exams while living in the tents.

The family had been offered a pair of houses in Skelmersdale but turned the offer down because they did not want to split up.

West Lancashire Council said: "It must be pointed out that it is due to the size of the Johnstone family that it has been extremely difficult for the council to provide permanent housing accommodation for them as quickly as both they, and we, would have liked.

"But we have done everything in our power to ensure that they are housed quickly and in a property to their satisfaction."