71845-05GAVIN Osbourn spends most of his days cooped up in his house. The 24-year-old who has Down's Syndrome has had no day care services for five years.

And try as they might his parents Susan and Brian, who care for him full time, are not able to entice him into other activities.

They have been fighting for Swindon Council's social services department to provide suitable day care so their son can learn to be independent from them.

They invited the Adver into their home for the day to see how Gavin spends his time. The family are virtually confined to their Covingham house, with only one parent being able to go out to do shopping or run errands.

On the day of my visit it took Gavin's dad one-and-half-hours to get him dressed ready to come downstairs.

Brian gave him a quick shave with an electric razor and daub some aftershave on his son, prompting his mum to laughingly say: "Don't you look handsome? You'll have all the girls after you now."

Gavin, an avid music fan, asks his dad if he can have a new tape but Brian tells him no because he had been awkward about having a wash.

"You have got to have discipline, the same as any child," Brian explained.

Gavin follows an identical routine nearly everyday. After breakfast he likes to listen to music in his bedroom.

Susan said. "He has become so used to it now, we don't know how to get him out of the habit."

Gavin doesn't like playing CDs so his parents have to hunt around second hand shops for tapes.

After a while he shows me his bedroom where he has amassed a vast collection of tapes. His favourites are Status Quo, Queen and 80s music.

He starts telling me about his carers at the Oakhouse Short Term Care Unit, run by the Swindon and Marlborough Primary Care Trust, where he receives night time respite care. He has a soft spot for a carer called Jackie.

After lunch, he either goes back to his room to listen to music again or watches a video until supper and then spends the evening watching soaps like Emmerdale or Coronation Street.

Gavin gets little treats as a reward for good behaviour. On Thursdays, it is a doughnut Brian has bought during the weekly supermarket shop.

On Saturdays, Gavin can usually be persuaded to go to the shops to buy some rolls to have with a burger, another treat he looks forward to.

But during the week he spends most of his time at home, although he enjoys visits from family members especially his older brother Justin, his partner Claire and their daughter Kelsey.

The Evening Advertiser launched the Help Gavin Campaign after his parents contacted the paper in desperation.

North Swindon MP Michael Wills has been supporting their fight and told the Adver he hoped their situation will be resolved at a meeting on September 10.

But Brian says he still has not been contacted by Swindon Council's social services department about the forthcoming meeting.

He said: "It's ironic, after all that publicity they can't even pick up the telephone and let us know they are still trying to sort the situation out.

"We only know about the meeting because of the Adver and Michael Wills.

"It just looks like they don't care."

Swindon Council spokeswoman Caroline Pike said: "We can confirm that a meeting is taking place with Michael Wills MP to discuss learning disability issues in early September, however we cannot comment on individual cases."

Bhavani Vadde