THE parents of two children who suffer from eczema are pleading for better housing.

Paul Dodd and Marie Minshall, of Alder Grove, Hoole, say they can no longer bathe their one-year-old daughter in a baby bath as she is now too big.

But the Chester and District Housing Trust property they live in has no bath or shower cubicle, just a walk-in shower room designed for elderly or disabled occupants.

Mr Dodd says his daughter Chloe is too frightened to go near the shower room, which is causing problems as she needs treatment for her eczema.

'A baby can't sit under it - she'll just think she's drowning, it's just a grid on the floor, not even a cubicle,' he said. 'The first time we attempted to put her there she screamed her head off. She's frightened to death.'

The family are on a waiting list and say they need a home with a bath so their daughter and son, eight-year-old Ryan, can soak in their medication.

'The kids have a doctor's letter. It's essential for them to have a bath to soak in a special oil to help them with their eczema - the little one is pretty bad. It is also affecting Ryan. The last place we were at he was always soaking in the bath and his eczema was clearing up but here, as soon as he puts the oil on it washes off with the shower and keeps coming back and Chloe's is even worse,' said Mr Dodd.

'We moved here about two years ago. We were living in Upton before that but we were having problems with the neighbours so we had to get out. We found out about the flat where we are now and the occupant wanted to move so we asked could we swap. Ryan was five or six at the time.

'We were happy at first because there was no baby but two months later we found out my wife was pregnant. We would have been happy in the flat with just one child because he was the right age but with the baby it's not fair not to have a bath.'

After finding out his wife was pregnant, Mr Dodd said he went straight to the housing trust.

'They said there were people with more points but we have always had the same amount of points and we are high up on the list.'

He said the family were offered a property in Pine Grove, Hoole, just before Christmas but turned it down as they felt it wasn't suitable.

Mr Dodd has no patience with the points system which he thinks is unfair.

'You're first or second on the list then suddenly a few weeks later you end up third. That's because others go there with more points. I think it's terrible. I was thinking of putting it all on computer and protesting about it around the town hall.'