A LISKEARD man who is awaiting a heart transplant, and who has been living in a homeless hostel with his wife for five months, is settling into his new council home.

Chris Skinner, and his wife Jo, were relieved when their name came to the top of Caradon council's housing list - and also pleased that their new home is next to Liskeard's Castle Park, where a helicopter can land if Chris suddenly has to be rushed to hospital.

The couple had been living in private rented accommodation in Liskeard, but were left without a roof over their heads when that was sold.

Despite Chris' health problems the only option open to them was accommodation at the Hendra Park hostel, and a cattery for their two cats, Pepsi and Hamlet. A few weeks ago, however, their housing points took them to the top of the Caradon list - and they were handed the keys to the Lodge at the bottom of Castle Park, near the Indian restaurant Annapurna, in Church Street.

Chris, who has been ill since l997 and who has had a very sophisticated cardiac defibrillator placed inside him, said that it was essential for him to live somewhere which the emergency services had easy access to. He explained the natural electronics inside his heart are not operating properly, which means he often passes out. This is where the defibrillator comes into play and has to 'shock' his heart into working again. So far he has had 46 such shocks.

At the end of the month he has an appointment at Harefield hospital, Middlesex, for updates and tests, and is likely to be given a pager at the end of September.

School

Jo has been working hard on the redecorating since they moved into the building, which Chris says dates from l777 when it was Liskeard's first grammar school. Later, after the three schools in Liskeard amalgamated and were based at what is now the Eventide home, it was to become the first police station in Liskeard (this was following a riot in Lower Lux Street). He said he has seen a picture of one of the original policemen, and his wife and children, taken next to the bull post to which the bull stone was attached.

He added he and Jo are delighted with their new accommodation.

Caradon's principal housing advice officer, Linda Tompkins, said the couple's points had reflected the fact that they were unintentionally homeless and that Chris needed stable accommodation due to his health. She said the council was delighted that, as a matter of course, their name had come to the top of the list, and they could be housed. She said: 'It gives us no pleasure telling people that they have to wait for a home, but unfortunately it is supply and demand.'