MARY Russell certainly has her work cut out for her over the next few months.

She has just been appointed Craven's rural housing enabler - a part time post funded by the Countryside Agency and Craven District Council.

And that is in addition to her existing job with the Craven Housing Scheme.

"I will be working with the rural communities and other partnership organisations to increase the availability and supply of affordable housing," she told the Herald.

"In other words, I will be concentrating on people in need of accommodation in rural areas who cannot afford the market price."

Her first job will be to set up a registration scheme for anyone interested in affordable housing in order to ascertain the demand in different villages.

"I hope that people who have had to move out because of a lack of affordable housing will also fill in a registration form. It is the only way we will find out specific needs."

She is also willing to talk to any groups or parishes about the issue.

Meanwhile Mary will be working with Home Housing, which has secured funding to buy eight properties in rural Craven to let to local people.

"We will probably be looking at purchase and repair - buying properties and then bringing them up to standard before letting them. Eventually we might be able to look at shared ownership housing - where the property is part owned by the tenant."

Mary also supports plans for landbank initiative, under which an audit would be carried out of all council-owned land to see if any could be offered for affordable housing.

Speaking about her new job, Mary said: "It is a challenge, but it is something that needs to be done because villages are losing their community aspect.

"We have got to make them more sustainable, and to do that we must make sure that the young people can stay. It is vital to have a balance between the ages."

Anyone who wants a registration form should contact Mary at the Craven Housing Scheme, 28 Victoria Street, Skipton, tel 01756 701110.