THE unluckiest house in Worcestershire is being sought for a competition.

Direct Line Insurance is urging people in Worcestershire who think their house has been jinxed by one household disaster after another, to contact them with their story.

The most woeful tale will win a three-year subscription to Direct Line's Home Response 24 service, set up to rescue homeowners from household emergencies such as lack of lighting and burst plumbing.

"There are so many things that can go wrong around the house," said Simon Ziviani, from Direct Line.

"And we all know how stressful it can be when essential services break down. There must be plenty of people out there who have, at one time or another, thought they have been living in the unluckiest house."

The idea for the competition came about after Direct Line's research revealed the Midlands was the unluckiest region in the country.

Compared to 51 per cent of Londoners, 82 per cent of West Midlanders, and 80 per cent of East Midlanders, claimed to be victims of the rule that "if anything can possibly go wrong, it will."

If you think you live in the House of Horrors, send a photograph and not more than 100 words to: The Unluckiest House in the Midlands Competition, Dragon Court, 27 Macklin Street, London WC2B 5LX.

The closing date is Monday, September 30, 2002.