PARENTS Anne-Marie Dyer and Richard Roberts are starting a new life up north after being moved under a council scheme.

Anne-Marie, Richard and their four-and-a-half-month-old son, Kieron, moved to Huddersfield in June through Wycombe District Council's FreshStart initiative.

Anne-Marie said: "Richard has found a job as a bricklayer with a local firm. Soon he will be starting a course at Huddersfield Technical College.

"We're both happy with the house and it's a nice area.

"We've made loads of friends up here now, often going round to each others' houses or we all meet in one of our friends' houses."

The council set up the scheme for families who would otherwise face years waiting to move from inappropriate council accommodation or from the council's waiting and homelessness lists.

Cllr Peter Cartwright, portfolio holder for housing at the district council, said: "This council, like so many others in the south, is unable to meet demand locally for those in housing need. That is why I'm pleased that we are now able to offer the opportunity of a home and a new life up north."

Interest in the scheme from tenants in the area is growing with 44 people moving from High Wycombe district to Huddersfield, Rochdale and Wakefield.

The council introduces tenants to the idea with no obligation.

Then, if they like the scheme, the family can be relocated to the north with an amount of money to set up their new home, as well as their moving costs.