YOUNG people around Droitwich are struggling to find somewhere to live because the town is fast running out of social housing, a civic leader has claimed.

Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for mid-Worcestershire Coun Margaret Rowley said young people are being forced to leave the villages in which they grew up because they cannot afford to buy homes.

She said that even if all the housing planned for Wychavon district until 2010 were to be earmarked for social housing demand would still outstrip supply.

"Young people are unable to afford to buy homes in the villages in which they were brought up, and have been forced to move away, usually into nearby cities and towns," she said. "Many former council houses in the area have been sold under the right-to-buy legislation.

"Some social rented housing has come forward under section 106 planning agreements but demand has outstripped supply."

But head of planning at Wychavon Jill Collin said the problem with affordable housing was a national one.

"There is a tremendous shortage of such housing across the country and Wychavon district is no different in this respect.

"There is no easy solution to this and we anticipate a requirement for a number of years ahead, although as a council we are doing all we can to take best advantage of the planning system to ensure as much social housing is built as possible."

More and more young people are now having to resort to renting homes because of the rising cost of properties.

"We are finding more and more young people are renting homes now because they either cannot afford to buy or they want to wait until they get burdened with a mortgage," said Chris Yardley, manager at Lamberts Property Centre in Droitwich.

"Generally, homes in villages are a lot more expensive and it would be difficult for first-time buyers to find something in a village so they tend to move into the town. But it is so hard for first-time buyers anywhere now."