Struggling to cope with the death of his wife of 25 years, Terry Pemberton has been branded a trespasser in his own home.

When Mr Pemberton's wife died of cancer in January, he knew it would be difficult for him to remain in the council house they shared together.

He has since accepted gracefully that red tape prevents the tenancy passing over to him and has started to pack his bags.

What he is not willing to accept is the way in which he has been treated by officers at Brighton and Hove City Council.

Since his wife's death, all correspondence to Mr Pemberton has been addressed to the "tolerated trespasser", impassively dismissing the 28 years he spent in the house.

Council rules stipulate that a tenancy can only be handed down once. This occurred when Mrs Pemberton's parents passed the house on to their daughter, meaning Mr Pemberton could not remain in the house alone.

As The Argus reported last year, a similar fate befell brothers Gary and Ian Beck, from Hollingdean, when their mother died suddenly.

The brothers were not allowed to inherit the house they had shared with their mother until a last-minute change of heart by the city council.

While the council is bound by strict legal rules governing the terms used, a more sympathetic approach could help to prevent further heartache to the bereaved.