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

The father-of-three has escaped the upstairs bedroom of his former home, where he was confined after an accident left him disabled, thanks to a new partnership scheme.

Now the trained upholsterer can join in family life at his newly adapted house.

Mr Flavell, 39, said: "I felt like a prisoner. I was just stuck upstairs, often in pain and miserable, and I could be snappy with the children." He and his wife Jacqueline, children Georgia, seven, Jacob, five and 23 month-old Zac, pictured, have just moved into their new, specially adapted home in Highfield Terrace, Cullingworth.

The house is the first of its kind in the Bradford district. Doors have been widened to accommodate his wheelchair, the couple 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. The children love it and I can join in the fun," he said.

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. At times like today, when we are having a picnic in the garden, he can get outside and join in."

In September, Mr Flavell, who became disabled six years ago following an operation to repair a slipped disc, will start a product design degree course and hopes to work from home.

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

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

Mr Krumins said: "It has been a very successful project and Darran and his family were a very deserving case.

"He was literally a prisoner upstairs. But his case is not unique. I have a case load of families in a similar situation which we hope to help."