People living in rural areas should be stopped from buying their council or housing association homes to stave off a migration of young people to the towns, says a campaigner.

The move could help thousands of young people stay in the countryside, the Yorkshire regional director of the Country Landowners' Association, Dorothy Fairburn, said.

Her comments came after Environment Secretary Michael Meacher announced the Government might end the right to buy Council houses or housing association homes in rural areas with a population of under 5,000.

The lack of affordable housing in the countryside will be made a priority in a forthcoming rural White Paper due out in the Spring.

Miss Fairburn said: "Too many young people are leaving because of cheaper and more available housing accommodation in the towns. There are many families who have lived in rural areas for generations and whose children have grown up and want to marry and stay in the countryside but cannot afford to.

"The fact is that the countryside has become attractive as a place to live by well-off commuters and the retired who can afford homes which can be as much as 50 per cent dearer than similar houses in the towns.

"The right to buy legislation was introduced by the last government and it may have worked for people in the towns.

"But it has reduced the stock of homes available for people in rural areas."

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