Harry Shadbourne can barely climb the steps outside his home The mother of a six-year-old boy with arthritis in his knees is pleading with housing bosses to bring an end to his agony by moving the family out of their second-floor flat.

Harry Radbourne, of Field Avenue, Blackbird Leys, was diagnosed with the crippling condition 18 months ago.

The youngster sleeps with splints on his legs, has to be carried up the flight of stairs to his second-floor flat and some days cannot walk at all because of the pain.

Doctors and medical experts support his mother Shanda Radbourne's plea to be moved to a ground floor flat.

But despite his condition, which affects one in 1,000 children, an Oxford City Council review has scored the family too low to merit an immediate move, although it will reassess his case soon.

Mrs Radbourne said: "If he has to walk up the stairs he is in agony. One day we were teaching him to ride his bike, he rode it for one hour and couldn't walk for two weeks.

"If the arthritis is really bad then he cannot walk at all. We have to carry him everywhere including up and down the stairs to the maisonettes. "The council has said we are eighth on the list for a three-bedroom house in Oxford, but I don't think they are doing anything -- there must be more than eight empty houses in this city.

"If his knees get any worse there might be a time when he cannot walk at all. Before that happens we would really like Harry to be able to go outside or play in a garden."

Shanda and her husband Lee took their son to Blackbird Leys Health Centre in January 2004 after he collapsed in his bedroom.

Doctors previously thought his problems were caused by growing pains but sent the youngster to Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington where a consultant diagnosed arthritis.

Harry is taking medication but doctors are unable to give him more powerful drugs because of his age.

Doctors and health visitors at Blackbird Leys Health Centre have written to the city council urging it to move Harry, who has two brothers aged two and four, on medical grounds.

A spokesman for the city council housing department said: "We are aware of the unfortunate health issues surrounding Mrs Radbourne and her son.

"We will shortly be reassessing their needs and will be taking appropriate action based on the results of this assessment."