A family in Oxfordshire are on the brink of going homeless after their new council home has been delayed for months due to nesting ducks.

Matthew Funnell's family was due to relocate to their assigned property in late March, but due to the discovery of nesting ducks and complications removing a tree, it has been delayed.

Funnell's private rental agreement ended on June 3, leaving his family vulnerable to eviction despite their high-priority status within the social housing system.

He explained that their current accommodation lacks appropriate adaptations for his disabled child's needs.

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The family are due to be relocated to the outskirts of Aston

Funnell said: "We can be evicted at any point the landlord wants. They are being very kind at the moment, but I don't think that's going to go on forever."

Funnell, who works as a transport manager, stated that his household now faces the genuine threat of becoming homeless.

Despite requesting alternative accommodation given his family's high-priority status, Funnell cannot apply for other properties because the council has already allocated them a home.

He said the house offered to him by West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC) came with many issues.

The transport manager expressed frustrations to the delays in moving his family to the other accommodation, stating: "It's literally because they want to dot the i's and cross the t's.

"We're still waiting to move into that property because of the delays that West Oxfordshire are causing."

A council spokesman said: "As is commonplace with new developments, there are a number of planning conditions which need to be formally discharged before the new homes are able to be occupied.

"The final outstanding condition relates to foul water capacity upgrades."

Facebook/Jane Doughty

The WODC said it has received "necessary information" from Thames Water and aims "to be in a position to discharge the condition shortly".

The water company confirmed installation of required enhancements, stating the drainage system now possesses sufficient capacity for the development.

Local representatives have intervened since April, with Conservative councillor Jane Doughty expressing disappointment that Funnell received allocation for an incomplete property without a definitive occupation date.

She said that while the council "had been very supportive... it in no way helps the family and their state of mind".