AN ENGAGED couple who fought to pull out of a house deal because one of them has terminal cancer have won their battle for a full refund. Arthur Blundell and his cancer-struck French-born fiancee Laurie Mescam, from Claygate, near Maidstone, asked housebuilder Hillreed Homes to release them from their obligation to go ahead with the purchase of a new £360,000 home at Kings Hill, near West Malling.

Mr Blundell said he paid a £38,000 deposit before knowing the seriousness of Miss Mescam's condition. He offered £10,000 for the housebuilder's inconvenience and asked for a refund of £28,000.

But Hillreed said it was prepared to offer only £5,000 on production of a hospital letter confirming Miss Mescam's condition. The case attracted widespread local and national publicity.

This week, Hillreed confirmed that it had agreed to Mr Blundell's demands and would accept his £10,000 offer and refund the balance to release him from the contract.