A HOUSING crisis is set to hit Bromsgrove, forcing its youngsters and key workers to leave the area.

House prices in the town rose by an astonishing 81 per cent from 1999 to 2004, with property prices now around 20 per cent greater than the national average.

Also, with the average price of a home reaching a staggering £196,818 and with the average salary at £21,813, Bromsgrove's youngsters cannot see the bottom rung of the ladder, let alone get on it. Bromsgrove has the third highest house prices in the West Midlands behind only Stratford and Solihull.

Other figures, commissioned by Bromsgrove District Housing Trust (BDHT) and Bromsgrove District Council, reveal the cheapest minimum prices in the district range from £93,500 to £104,000, depending on size.

Student Jon Snell, 21, from Tollhouse Road, in Stoke Heath, said: "I am working towards a good qualification but it just isn't practical to buy something in Bromsgrove.

"The property prices are just out of my reach and it's likely I won't be able to continue living in the town I call home."

Mike Brown, chief executive of BDHT, said: "Bromsgrove is in a position where the young people in the area, working hard at starting their careers, are unable to stay in the town where they were born. The statistics are really startling."

"Something needs to be done now. Land needs to be freed up in the town to make way for affordable housing. This is the only way we can ensure people can stay in Bromsgrove and its sense of community spirit remains," added Mike.

It is believed the price rise is due to the town's close proximity to Birmingham and Worcester and the motorway network. Other people suffering because of the price hike are Bromsgrove's nurses, teachers and other key workers who are unable to take job opportunities because they cannot afford to live in the town.

Andy Coel, head of strategic housing for Bromsgrove District Council, added: "We recognise the problem and understand that affordability is a major issue in Bromsgrove. We do not want to see young people leave the town or have people unable to take job opportunities.

"There has been a consultation event and we are currently rewriting our housing strategy to try and help the situation. It is about offering different options to people. We are hoping to offer more affordable housing in the future and low cost and shared ownership homes as well."