An elderly couple could face being parted after 58 years of marriage because their son and his wife have been refused help to move nearer their home.

David and Helen Austin applied to Bexley Council to move nearer to Mr Austin’s parents, who live in Compton Place, Erith.

But Bexley has refused their request, saying: “They are not in housing need and many other people have a higher priority for the social housing available.”

Bexley councillor Chris Ball, who took up the family’s case, condemned Bexley’s procedures as “not flexible enough” and claimed the human and financial cost of its refusal to help could be enormous.

Mr Austin’s mother, Elsie, 83, is a paraplegic and has been in a wheelchair for 40 years.

His father Norman, 84, has been her main carer and Mr Austin says despite his age, his father was still managing well, until a trip on an uneven pavement in the summer broke his shoulder.

Since then Mr Austin, 50, has been forced to give up his full-time job as an entertainer to help care for both his parents.

Mrs Austin and his wife, also 50, live in privately rented accommodation in Battle Road, Erith, with their college student youngest son.

But it has become increasingly difficult to afford since Mr Austin gave up full-time work, even though Mrs Austin works for the Citizens’ Advice Bureau.

The couple were forced to apply for housing benefit to help pay the rent and say they will have to move to a cheaper place in the New Year.

As his parents found it increasingly difficult to cope, Mr Austin and his wife have had to respond to night-time emergencies, which have not been too great a problem as they still live relatively nearby.

Their fear is they will have to move out of the borough to find a cheaper property to rent, which will take them further away from Mr Austin’s parents and make them unable to respond quickly to calls for help.

The couple applied to Bexley Council to rent a one-bedroom flat in Compton Place so they keep up care for Mr Austin’s parents.

They put arrangements in place for their son to live elsewhere.

But Bexley has refused, saying they do not meet the council’s criteria.

Mr Austin said: “I am sure the council thinks we are just trying it on. But we are just trying to keep mum and dad together.”

He said he feared, without the council’s help his parents may have to go into separate homes to be cared for, and be parted after 58 years of marriage.

Mr Austin added: “They could have a care package in place, but who is my father going to call when he needs help at 2am?”

Councillor Ball said: “Mr Austin’s parents are. in a poorly condition and all Mr Austin wants to do is look after his family.”

He added: “If Mr Austin is forced to move away, his parents will need a care package which will cost a fortune. We should be using the system to help people, not to block common sense.”

A council spokesman said: “We are carrying out a full financial assessment to see if we can help Mr and Mrs Austin to continue to stay in their present home, which is only one mile from Mr Austin’s parents home.

“If they are not eligible for further help, we can then explore the possibility of less expensive private rented accommodation.”

She added: “We have looked at this before, and were unfortunately unsuccessful.”