A WEST Wiltshire mother who refused a council house because officials ruled she made herself intentionally homeless has won the latest battle to reverse the decision.

A judge at Swindon County Court ordered officials at West Wiltshire District Council to go through the application process again after he found flaws in its procedures.

But 43-year-old Julie Southall could still end up homeless if district council officers come to the same decision again.

Ms Southall is the first person in west Wiltshire to take a homelessness appeal case to a county court.

Chippenham-based solicitors Wood Awdry & Ford took on the case after being contacted by the Citizens Advice Bureau.

The County Court judge weighed up the case and ruled in favour of Ms Southall. He said discrepancies existed in the district council's application procedures and officers would have to carry out the process again.

The housing tangle arose when Ms Southall moved from west Wiltshire to start a new life in Wales.

When the move did not work out she returned to the district but was refused a council house.

Solicitor Wilf Rolt told the judge Ms Southall did not intend to become homeless and "should not be penalised for her mistake."

Speaking after the decision Ms Southall said: "I am glad to have won this appeal and hope the council will now be able to help me find some accommodation."

A spokesman for Wood, Awdry & Ford said: "I was delighted for Julie that the appeal was successful and I hope that the further review will be in her favour so that she and her family can finally put the traumatic events of the last two years behind them."

District council spokesman Louise Knox said Ms Southall had not won the case despite the judge awarding costs.

She said: "The judge did not make a decision one way or another about her status.

"The solicitors make it sound like they have won the case but the judge was simply concerned with the process that we followed.

"We could reach a similar finding this time but the process is still going on.

"There is absolutely no guarantee that she will end up with a different outcome."