Britain's smallest council house, which has just two rooms, has a new tenant.

Believed to be the oldest council house in Britain, new tenant Fay Laflin fits in perfectly measuring in at just 5ft.

The Dutch Cottage in Rayleigh, Essex, is thought to have been built in 1621- by settlers who helped drain land.

Octagonal in shape, the home measures just 20ft across but contains all the mod cons, including a fully fitted kitchen and shower room.

Miss Laflin acts as a tour guide showing visitors around her home: "I'm happy to open the house for people to come in and see it and share it with them.

"It's compact and bijou but it's just such a beautiful place to live, it's really quirky.

"I'm five ft tall so I'm really suited to living in a small space. For the first time in my life I can actually reach up and touch the ceiling with my finger tips."

© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.