A disabled man and his wife are preparing to sleep in their car this week when they are evicted from their council accommodation.

Darren Cooper, 36, and his wife Joanne, 22, have been told by Oxford City Council to move out of their home in Iffley Road by Wednesday.

The council said housing demand was high in Oxford and it would only provide accommodation at the taxpayer's expense if a person's disability met certain criteria.

Mr and Mrs Cooper were threatened with eviction shortly before Christmas, but were given a three-month reprieve until this week, when they appealed.

They moved into the first-stage homeless accommodation at Warwick House, in June last year, and were hoping to be moved into permanent second stage accommodation.

Mr Cooper, who suffers from Scheuermann Syndrome, said he could only walk short distances comfortably and relied on crutches and a wheelchair when in severe pain.

He is worried his health will deteriorate if the couple are forced to sleep rough.

He said: "My wife and I will be sleeping in the car. It will mean I will be in severe pain all the time. It's very stressful and upsetting."

"I would like the council to put us into second stage homeless accommodation and stop messing us about."

Dennis Boobier, the council's housing needs manager, said: "It would not be fair to breach the Coopers' privacy by discussing in the media why they were not eligible for homeless accommodation.

"Demand for homeless housing in Oxford is high, and it is funded by taxpayers.

"The council must follow the law and prioritise families with children, vulnerable elderly people, and people with mental health problems or physical disabilities.

"The details of a person's homeless application must remain confidential, but I can assure people that we do thorough checks of each case -- for example by writing to GPs -- before offering permanent accommodation."