RELIEVED parents Rebecca and Damien Thursby have withdrawn a planning appeal after managing to find a mortgage firm that will help finance a specially adapted home for their sick daughter.

The couple feared a condition on plans for their new home at Patney, near Devizes would prevent them getting a mortgage and so took the difficult decision to go to appeal.

But now they are delighted a lender has agreed to take them on.

Mrs Thursby said: "We've managed to find a lender who is willing to lend in spite of the condition thank goodness so we have withdrawn the appeal."

The couple whose three year old daughter Sophia, three, has a number of medical problems that have led to her being severely disabled want to build the house at Woodland Road, Patney so they could be near the little girl's grandparents.

Mr and Mrs Thursby, who are supported by Julia's House children's hospice, were thrilled last year when the eastern are planning committee agreed they could build the new house despite officers recommending it should be refused.

But they then realised that a condition which said only they could live in it for the first five years after it was built was preventing them getting a mortgage.

Mrs Thursby said at the time of going to appeal: "We've appealed one of the conditions as it is preventing us from getting a self-build mortgage.

"Because one of the conditions stipulates that only we can live in the home for the first five years we can't find anyone to lend to us, as if we were to default on a payment then the mortgage lender couldn't sell the property on. Hopefully we can get it amended."

But now they can concentrate on building the house which has been designed with Sophia in mind with wide corridors and space for all the special equipment she needs to keep her alive.

The couple say it is vital for them to be near Mr Thursby's parents as they would provide extra vital support.

Mrs Thursby said when the plan was first agreed: "It was very emotional and I am so overwhelmed and relieved. I now won't need to be on my own coping with resuscitating Sophia. I will have help and the enormous difference this will make to our family is not only life-changing but life-saving."

Originally planning officers recommended plans for the new house should be turned down but committee members decided the family's needs outweighed planning objections.

Mrs Thursby said at the time: "Being allowed to build this house really could be the difference between life and death for Sophia. At the moment Sophia not only has seizures but she is also sick at the same time.

"So I have to try and resuscitate her and clear sick from her airways. You really need two people to be able to do that safely. If we lived next door to her grandparents they would always be just moments away.”