WYCHAVON District Council has drawn up a new housing strategy, as the Countryside Agency warns of a growing homelessness crisis in rural areas.

More than 300 families approach the council for help in the past year but it is feared many more people are affected by a lack of affordable homes in the district.

The Countryside Agency's annual state of the countryside report says the number of homeless people in rural areas has increased by nearly a third since 1999.

The report highlights increases in house prices and in the number of second homes as possible causes.

At the launch of the report on Monday, June 21, Countryside Agency chairwoman Pam Warhurst said: "Life in England's countryside is good - for many. More and more people are moving there to live - and why shouldn't they have that choice? There is nothing wrong with wanting a good quality of life - but this pressure on the countryside has an unintended impact.

"Those who exercise their choice to move can reduce the choices of the less well-off in rural areas and affect the character of our countryside. That's why it is important to focus on what has been going on, to help national and regional policy makers better understand the impact of their decisions and initiatives on rural communities and our landscapes - and do something about it."

Liz Dyde, head of revenues and housing at Wychavon, said: "We have a number of projects under way to improve homelessness issues in the district and provide affordable homes. In the last year we have provided 96 affordable homes - these figures were a little less than expected due to central government funding issues.

"Owners of empty homes no longer get council tax discounts to persuade them to find tenants or utilise their homes rather than leave them empty.

"These projects, and others, form our draft housing strategy, which we have drawn up and will be sharing with partners next Wednesday, June 30, for feedback on the way forward. It sets out how, in the next ten years, through working with housing associations and other partners, we will tackle this national problem."