A FAMILY of seven ordered to refund £2,000 in overpaid housing benefit have been spared eviction thanks to a council U-turn – and an anonymous donation.

Jeanette Harvey and Rob Etherington have been overpaid housing benefit since February when they began living together in Priory Green, Highworth, because the council forgot to ask them how much in child tax credits they received for the five children they have between them.

But after the Adver contacted the council on their behalf, benefits officers have written to the couple apologising for the bungle.

Jeanette and Rob have been told they must still repay £799 of the original refund plus this month’s rent using the reduced benefit but can rest easy after a secret donor has stepped in to pull them out of the red with a £2,022 cheque.

The couple will use the money to pay off their council debt, this month’s £850 rent and, with the £373 left, pay part of September’s rent while they adjust to their new lower housing benefit.

The mystery benefactor, who asked not to be named, said: “I feel for Jeanette and Rob as they have been through a lot already, splitting up their families through divorce, finally finding each other only to then suffer because of council errors.

“Fate has found them with a collective family of five children and they deserve to stay together, not to be put through eviction with their young children.

“If £2,000 is all it takes then they can have it with my very best wishes.”

Jeanette reapplied for housing benefit this in February this year when Honda worker Rob, 38, moved in with children Sean, 16, and Samantha, 12.

When they began to receive £205.97 a week they called the council to check they were not being overpaid and, Jeanette claims, were reassured there had been no mistakes.

But on July 19 they received seven letters telling them that not only had their benefit been reassessed, and they would now just receive £67 per week, but they had to repay every penny of the back payment.

The debt would have crippled the couple, forcing them, Sean, Samantha and Jeanette’s children Annabel, 12, Keira, nine and Ella, two out of the home they loved.

But now the council have sent the couple an apology admitting it was their error that caused such anguish to the family and have once again increased the couple’s housing benefit to £180.

Jeanette, 38, said: “It’s like someone is really looking out for us. Not only has the council admitted it was wrong but this wonderful woman’s kindness means we can make the rent this month.

“Before we were wondering how we were going to pay it with just £67 a week but with her generosity we have been spared.

“I just want to say, whoever you are that we are so, so, so very grateful for this. "It means so much to us and it is lovely to find such kindness in the world.”