THREE brothers have been evicted from their Lostock family home of more than 60 years due to their hoarding becoming a fire risk.

Brian, Paul and Mark Appleton have been evicted from their home by Weaver Vale Housing Trust this morning.

The brothers were evicted in March 2016 along with their 87-year-old mother, May, and were put up in a hotel by the housing trust.

Bailiffs used sledgehammers and crowbars on the doors before drilling out the locks and leading May and her sons away from their home.

When May fell ill and died in June of that year, they were allowed back into their home as the eviction notice had been issued to their mother and had not been finalised.

However, the housing trust started the eviction process again after attempting to work with the family and ‘exhausting all other options’.

A spokesperson for Weaver Vale Housing Trust said: “Over the past five years we, along with partners including Cheshire West and Chester Council and a number of agencies, have attempted to work with the Appleton brothers to explore every option available to make the property safe for them to live in. This follows Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service determining that the house was a serious fire hazard.

“Despite our efforts and those of our partners, as well as people within the community, we have been unable to reach an agreement that would allow for the property to be cleared to reduce the fire risk. The condition of the property also means we have been unable to carry out up-to-date safety inspections.

“We never take action like this lightly, but after exhausting all other options, we were left with no alternative but to seek a possession order. We have followed the ruling of the court throughout this case and we will continue to work with Cheshire West and Chester Council and other local services to ensure the Appleton brothers receive all the support available to them.

“The safety of our tenants and neighbours must come first, and our priority throughout this case has been to make the house safe for those living in the property, their neighbours and others visiting the property.”