Help to keep blind couple in their Blackpool home

Cath & John Roche are a married couple who are both blind say they're on "borrowed time" after being told they have to find a new home suitable for them and their guide dogs.

They have been living in their rental home in Blackpool for 22 years, but were informed on 3 March that their home had been repossessed by the bank from their previous landlord.

They were issued a Section 21 no fault eviction notice and told they had just two months to find a new home.

Cath said: "We can't possibly move out of here in two months. We've got a house full of furniture and if we don't get a place straight away we'll have to put them in storage.

They have also asked the bank if they could help and were told this would not be possible.

John and Cath say being blind brings with it a whole host of extra complexities the bank has not taken into account.

We could be put in an area where we don't know our way around, we wouldn't know how the buses work or where we were. It's all these little things people don't think of," John added: "We're so independent here, we know the layout of every room in this house so well, and that's why it's so important we stay here." If the couple are forced to move into a hostel or cannot find a property that will accept pets, they also face the prospect of losing their two guide dogs.

John said: "It would just be a massive wrench if we lost the dogs even temporarily." The dogs are so used to the area. It would be difficult to teach Jamie a new area because he's getting older now.

Not only are the couple worried about losing their home and their dogs, but also the community they have helped build over the last two decades. John said: "It's very upsetting, we know the people, we know the area, we’ve got good neighbours next door who help us with DIY and other bits. It's heartbreaking." After John and Cath spoke to ITV News they were advised the sale of the property had been “paused" but this is still currently listed on an estate agent website as for sale at £135,00 which they have stated is negotiable.

If the fund raising amount is met they could stay in their home and the funds would be paid to the bank accordingly.