A MASSIVE £5.24m has been earmarked to ease Bromsgrove's growing house price crisis.

Bromsgrove District Housing Trust's board has pledged money to buy up available land to allow affordable housing to be built.

The housing trust is aiming to build 200 homes by 2012 for those struggling to get on the housing ladder.

The promise of funding follows news that the average house price in Bromsgrove has hit £196,818 and that, for the next five years, there will be a shortage of 418 affordable homes per annum in Bromsgrove district.

Properties built on the land purchased with the money will be aimed at those in the town who are struggling to get a mortgage large enough to purchase their own home. The properties will be made available via new government initiatives, allowing residents to purchase a share of a property while renting the remainder from the housing trust.

Trust chief executive Mike Brown said: "Putting this money on the table is the first step, we will now work with the council, government and other partners to establish suitable sites and start the process to get our ideas off the ground."

Mum Lynda Snell, of Tollhouse Road, who has three adult children living at home, said: "My three sons all have good jobs or good prospects on college courses, but the idea of them buying in the district currently is just a dream."

Anyone with land for potential for development should contact Gordon Macauley or Mike Brown on 01527 557551 or 557508.