Darran Flavell feels like a man who has been released from prison.

The disabled trained upholsterer has escaped the upstairs bedroom of his former home in Wilsden and can now join in the hurly-burly of family life at his newly adapted house in Cullingworth.

"I felt like a prisoner. I was just stuck upstairs, often in pain and miserable. And I could be snappy with the children," said 39-year-old Mr Flavell, who has been disabled for six years.

He and his wife Jacqueline, children Georgia, seven, Jacob, five, and 23-month-old Zac, have just moved into their new home in Highfield Terrace, Cullingworth.

Doors have been widened to accommodate his wheelchair, he and Jacqueline have a downstairs bedroom with special en-suite bathroom, and there are ramps to the gardens and garage.

"It's hard to describe how much better life is. It's fantastic," he said.

"The children love it and I can join in the fun.

"I was even able to get involved in the Easter Egg hunt with the children."

Mrs Flavell, who is her husband's full-time carer, said: "We are now more of a family. Darran can get more involved. Before he was stuck upstairs in his bedroom.

"It is much better for the children. Like today, when we are having a picnic in the garden, he can get outside and join in."

In September, Mr Flavell will start a product design degree course at Huddersfield University. He hopes eventually to work from home.

He became disabled following an operation to repair a slipped disc.

The renovation project on the house has been financed through a partnership between Bradford Council housing department, social services and Home Housing Association.

It is the first of its kind in the Bradford area and was spearheaded by Sue Dewdney, rural outreach worker for Keighley Disabled People's Centre, with help from Atis Krumins, the council's manager of disabled persons housing services.

"It has been a very successful project and Darran and his family were a very deserving case. He was literally a prisoner upstairs," said Sue.

"But his case is not unique. I have a case load of families in a similar situation which we hope to help," she said.

She hopes her job, which is financed until February by hAct The Housing Association Charitable Trust, will be re-funded.