AN expert has been brought in to tackle the shortage of affordable housing through Malvern Hills to halt the drift of families and young people to the cities.

The problem has arisen partly because the spiralling cost of private housing is pricing young people out of the market.

Alan Saunders is working with Malvern Hills District Council to find ways of plugging the gaps in local housing.

Mr Saunders is a rural housing enabler employed by Community First, which supports voluntary organisations and community groups in Worcestershire and Herefordshire.

He is looking at about 60 schemes, each for 10 or fewer new homes.

His role is to become involved with local communities and find ways of retaining young people in villages.

He has carried out about a dozen surveys in the town to identify the level of housing need.

And he hopes to encourage the building of new houses for families and young people in Martley, with other schemes planned for Kempsey, Holt and Rushwick.

"The cost of housing for young people is a real problem and we're keen to consider anything which might make it more affordable for them," said Malvern-based Mr Saunders.

"This is all about trying to stop the drift from the rural to urban economies by doing things which make it more attractive for young people to stay in the countryside."