THE daughter of an Alcester pensioner desperately in need of help in finding a new council house claims the local authority is giving preferential treatment to people who are new to the area.

Karen Beasley claims Stratford District Council is ignoring her mother Janet Nicholson's pleas for help with housing, despite being on the waiting list for four years.

Mrs Nicholson, 63, appeared in the Chronicle last week, claiming she faced being made homeless after deciding to retire from her job as live-in housekeeper at Abbeyfields House in Henley Street.

But Mrs Beasley says she had heard a number of recent cases where people were being housed by the council despite only just arriving in Alcester, while her mum -- who has been in the town for 16 years -- faces being made homeless.

"Mum feels as if she is being penalised for wanting to retire.

"Why is the council giving priority to people who have not contributed to the community and have not lived in the area?" she asked.

"If people are moving into the area, surely they should be made to rent privately while on the waiting list.

"As it stands at the moment, she is being made to rent privately because the council is not prepared to house her."

But a council spokesman said he was unable to comment on individual cases but would continue to give advice and assistance to Mrs Nicholson.

He added assessments were made individually and on their own merits, based on a Government scoring system.