A window cleaner may miss out on seeing his son grow up after a serious accident left him stranded in hospital.

Ricky Perrin, 28, of Sheridan Terrace, Hove, fell from a window in November, injuring his spine. He was paralysed from the waist down and wheelchairbound.

Since the accident he has been at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Buckinghamshire but his partner of four years, Sharon Banks, has been unable to visit with eight-year-old stepson Connor and five-month-old River.

Ricky has astounded staff with a speedy rehabilitation and should be discharged on February 28 but may have to stay in hospital for months before a home with wheelchair access can be found.

Self-employed Ricky said: "I can't go back to where I live in Hove. I wouldn't be able to get in the flat as there is a set of stairs leading to the entrance. The community occupational therapists have been around and have said sorry, you're not going to be back there'."

Ricky and Sharon have joined the housing list.

They have been told the chances of suitable accommodation becoming available is slim while doctors have told them there is no chance of Ricky leaving hospital until they have a suitable home.

Ricky said: "I saw my son before Christmas but due to my partner's parents being ill she's been unable to come up here. I haven't seen Connor for six or seven weeks.

"It's sad. When I had my accident he was only three months old and I can imagine that every day something new is happening to him and I can't get to see any of it.

"There are a lot of people who work hard for a living and they never realise that if something like this was to happen to them they could end up homeless.

"Initially I am going to be put on a housing list but according to the hospital here, Brighton is a difficult place for people to get housed.

"I know it's going to take a very long time. At the moment I am relying on a council property."

Sharon said: "It's a case of having to go on, really.

You've got to carry on and do as much as you can. It's life and you've got to stay strong for the children."

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: "Mr Perrin only completed his application for housing on January 3. We certainly haven't forgotten about him and we are assessing his application this week. He can then begin bidding on suitable council properties.

"Wheelchair accessible accommodation is scarce both in the social housing and private sectors. Our housing options team will assist the family in looking for suitable private rented accommodation."

He added the council was committed to developing more wheelchair accessible accommodation and could not say how long Ricky would have to wait.