Cancer sufferer Ian McCairns says he is feeling suicidal after receiving a county court eviction notice.

In November, Mr McCairns, 53, of Riverside Court, Oxford, revealed how the city council's housing department threatened him with eviction, even though he had made a claim for housing benefit.

Housing benefit managers promised to make his case a priority and said they would liaise with staff in the housing department.

But despite the assurance, Mr McCairns, below, who is suffering from prostate cancer, said a county court order arrived on January 2 to say he would be evicted on January 11. He said: "I am experiencing an acute sense of desperation. In fact this latest letter has left me feeling suicidal.

"I have given both council departments all the relevant information and yet it is quite clear that they have failed to communicate properly, despite assurances that this would be done.

"My housing benefit claim has still not been processed, and I am, of course, still waiting for an important operation, which is stressful enough. "I have re-submitted all the information council officers have requested but it appears that they have ignored it. It's totally demoralising."

Mr McCairns was initially threatened with eviction due to rent arrears. He continued to pay them until he left work as a driver in August, to care for his sick 81-year-old mother.

A city housing department spokesman said Mr McCains's housing benefit claim was being assessed and he would be contacted next week.