A grieving pensioner was told by council officials he was being evicted just days after his wife's death.

Robert Groves was given six weeks to quit the two-bedroom council home he had lived in for 32 years because the council says he only needs one bedroom.

The 68-year-old was shattered when an officer arrived less than two weeks after his wife Majorie's death to tell him other families were waiting to move into the house in Marden Close, Woodingdean.

The father of three and grandfather of ten said: "We've brought up our family in this house. It is so full of memories.

"The council gave me until August 12 to move but it has given me a bit of leeway and will find me a one-bedroom flat in Woodingdean.

"If I don't accept the first offer they say I will be out on my ear. "

Retired taxi driver Mr Groves is also smarting at having to hand back the car he and his wife owned under the Motability Scheme five days after her death.

Mr and Mrs Groves split up for six months in 1981 and divorced and Mr Groves signed over their joint tenancy agreement for the house.

They got back together but the tenancy remained in Mrs Groves' name only.

The couple's daughter Tonya Groves said she was disgusted at the timing of Brighton and Hove City Council's approach and the attitude of Motability.

Tonya, of Connell Drive, Woodingdean, said: "My dad wanted to bury mum's ashes in the garden. Now he can't.

"She wanted to change the tenancy back to a joint one but was told it couldn't be changed a second time."

Mrs Groves died aged 60 after years suffering from lupus.

A spokesman for the Motability Scheme said it usually allowed the family of the deceased to keep the vehicle until midnight after the day of the funeral or seven days after the customer's death.

Mrs Groves' funeral was three weeks after her death but her three- year lease agreement ran out on June 18.

He added: "The disabled person's allowance pays for the lease so if that's not being paid any more, we need to sell it as quickly as possible.

"It is obviously a very sensitive issue and I would like to apologise if there has been any confusion and undue stress caused to the customer in this case."

A council spokeswoman said: "We will fully investigate this matter and continue to consider Mr Groves' needs through the rehousing process."