A SWINTON couple have been left stranded in their own home after the previous council tenant moved out - and took the drive with him!

Brett Walker and Cheryl Hanna desperately wanted to move to a bigger house when Cheryl became pregnant, and they were eventually given a council home across the road from their one-bedroom flat in Tennyson Road.

However, the flabbergasted couple, who have now had their baby, simply could not believe it when they moved in, only to find the last occupant had dug up and removed the entire driveway, leaving just a muddy gravel run, riddled with potholes as the route into the house.

He had also taken the garden gate and fencing panels, leaving the house open to every stray cat and dog in the neighbourhood.

A furious Brett claimed this week it is almost impossible to negotiate baby Lucy's pram across the muddy wilderness, and after spending £700 on carpets those are now being ruined by muddy wheels from the outside mire.

However, when an enraged Brett phoned Salford housing offices, he claims he was told the driveway wasn't the council's responsibility and they wouldn't be able to provide a new fence.

Brett has now had stones delivered to fill in the larger holes, but says he can't afford to have the drive paved and can't believe the council are expecting him to do it himself.

He told us: "I've been asking them to fill in the holes or return it to the state it was in before, when all the other properties have got proper driveways. I don't see why I should spend my money doing this."

A council spokeswoman said: "We understand the previous tenant had fitted his own block paving drive but removed it when he left. He offered to sell Mr Walker this but he declined the offer. He's had a path fitted to the front of the property. He was advised at the viewing and sign-up that the fencing was part of an ongoing scheme for renewal. This will start on his property by early next week."