A blind single mother fears she may be left homeless because Bradford Council does not class her as a "priority case".

Mother-of-two Caroline Shaw is registered blind and has lived in Clayton all her life.

When her private landlord gave her notice to leave the house on Thornaby Drive, Clayton, she contacted the Council's housing department.

Ms Shaw, 29, had bid for a home which she says would be perfect for her family, but the Council told her it cannot prioritise because more than 20 people want to live there.

A spokesman for Bradford Council's housing department said Priority Cards no longer apply where there are over 20 bids for a Council property.

Ms Shaw said: "There was one Clayton house in particular that I wanted, so I put a bid in for it. I was told I was third on the list. But then later, I was suddenly number 15. I was told that the other 14 people in front of me must be more desperate than me.

"But I am blind and Clayton is all that I know. I have two young children to bring up on my own. How much more desperate can you get?"

Since November 7, when her landlord gave her two months notice to leave because he wants to sell the house, Ms Shaw has been asking the Council for somewhere to live in Clayton. Now Ms Shaw fears she will be left homeless with her children William, eight, and two-year-old Angel, who are pictured with their mum.

The house she would like to live in is a three-bedroom terrace on The Avenue in Clayton. Although it is smaller than her semi-detached home, it has a dog kennel in the garden where she could put a guide dog she has been offered.

If Ms Shaw loses the bid, the next date she can try for homes in Clayton is December 30, but nothing would be decided for at least ten days after that.

A Bradford Council spokesman said: "If there are over 20 bids for a Council property - and this one has to date received 23 - Priority Cards will no longer apply. In such cases, the applications are put into date order, which is why Ms Shaw has been moved down the list. But she can withdraw that bid if she wishes and apply for another property. " He said if Ms Shaw continued to be unsuccessful, accommodation would be found for her and her family.

Ms Shaw has applied for both houses currently available for bidding in Clayton. She said: "The Council's system is so daft because it does not give anyone like me a chance, despite my circumstances. What is the point of having a priority system if it is not used?"