FIRST-time house buyers in Redditch could soon be given a leg up onto the property ladder by Redditch Council.

Council Leader David Cartwright said the authority would be looking at new ways to provide affordable housing.

A report by the council's housing strategy team revealed the average house price in Redditch was now £156,241. But the average household's wage in the town is £29,275, giving buyers the ability to obtain only a £102,462 mortgage.

The council's announcement coincides with Chancellor Gordon Brown's plans to give financial help to up to 100,000 first-time buyers nationally.

Mr Cartwright said: "We are keen to find ways in which people can get onto the first rung of the property ladder.

''That means providing more affordable housing, which includes joint ownership schemes."

He said young people in particular were finding it difficult to get onto the property ladder because house prices in Redditch were rocketing.

"If you look at the average wage in Redditch and then look at the average house price, it's clearly very difficult for people - especially for those between 18-24 who are perhaps on lower wages because they are just starting out on a career," said Mr Cartwright.

He said the council would be able to release some of its land specifically for affordable housing developments in the future to calm house prices.

"Clearly, trying to provide affordable housing is one of our main priorities," he added.

The Government announced this week it aims to help couples who can raise up to half the cost of homes sold on the open market under a deal with mortgage lenders.

And this week, the first tenants moved into a new £1.7 million affordable housing scheme in Greenlands Drive, Redditch.

The initiative is being funded by the Spa Housing Association and gives residents the opportunity to part-own a property.