A YOUNG Chippenham family went on an undercover mission in Lower Compton to capture the home of their dreams.

Amanda Goodship, husband Paul, both 29, and their six-month-old daughter Erykah camped out in a tent for a week to keep their place in a queue of prospective house buyers.

The family got the house they wanted in Atcherley Road, and hope to move in next week. But they are keeping the Champagne on ice until they have swapped contracts with the buyers of their old house, in Pewsham, and the deal becomes official.

The nine former Ministry of Defence properties up for sale were sold in a batch, on a first come first served basis. The couple took time off work and joined other families who pitched tents in the grounds of a show home in Lower Compton.

Mrs Goodship said: "We live in a two up, two down but the new house is probably double the size easily. This is it now, this will be our family home until we retire."

A spokesman for Annington Homes, who sold the properties, said: "We believe that we provide properties at competitive prices, but some people are under the impression we offer cheap housing."