HUNDREDS of people have backed a grieving family's plea to keep the home they were brought up in after the death of their mother.

Cathrine Shanley died suddenly at her flat on January 23 at the age of 59 and Maryhill Housing Association want her ex-husband, John, and his children to hand over the keys.

John, 59, was the original tenant and only transferred the flat to Cathrine after they were divorced.

However, the couple stayed close and John was a regular visitor to the family home where their children, Ronnie and Lisa, were raised.

When Ronnie and Lisa had children of their own, Cathrine and John looked after their grandchildren at the flat in Balfour Street.

John has a one-bedroom flat in nearby Wyndford Road which the family say is not big enough to allow his grandchildren to stay overnight.

However, Maryhill Housing Association insists that John can't move in to his former home in Balfour Street.

His son Ronnie, 37, has now set up an online petition at website change.org which has already attracted more than 700 supporters.

Ronnie said: "My mother died unexpectedly on January 23 of a heart attack in her bed. She had lived in the family home for over 40 years and this is where my sister and I were brought up. She was the child minder of my own daughter and was the child minder of her second grandchild until the day she died.

"Although she and my dad legally divorced over 20 years ago, they had a continued relationship of companionship, where my dad visited every day and stayed overnight two nights a week to support her while she child minded her grandson, as she had a weak heart. My dad lives in a one-bedroom flat and he can't have grandchildren there overnight.

"In spite of this, Maryhill Housing Association is not allowing the house to succeed to my dad meaning the family home has to be given up."

A spokesman for Maryhill Housing Association offered to meet the Shanleys after the Evening Times got in touch. He said: "Maryhill Housing Association has been approached by the Shanley family asking if it would be possible for Mr Shanley to succeed to the tenancy of one our homes. This property had been occupied by his former wife who has unfortunately since died. We have extended our deepest sympathy to the family in light of their bereavement.

"In common with many other housing providers, Maryhill Housing Association has an extremely long waiting list of people who are seeking a home with us.

"It is our understanding that Mr Shanley has a home with another housing association and therefore would not be eligible to succeed the tenancy. Like all housing associations we have to ensure that properties are allocated in line with our policies and procedures. At the time of Mrs Shanley's death Mr Shanley was not registered at the address."

The petition can be found online at: change.org/p/maryhill-housing-association-glasgow-keep-my-dad-in-the-family-council-tenancy?recruiter=150186475&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=autopublish&utm_term=des-lg-share_petition-reason_msg