WORCESTER has again been criticised for its poor levels of social housing after it was revealed that out of 320 new homes built last year, only 11 were for this purpose.

Worcestershire and Herefordshire hit the headlines last month when another survey showed that more than 17,500 families were affected by the housing crisis.

The latest study by the General and Municipal Boilermakers shows Worcester falling behind its counterparts in Malvern Hills and Wychavon. In the Faithful City, only 3.4 per cent of homes started last year were for housing associations, whereas the figure for Malvern and Wychavon was 7.3 per cent and 6.7 per cent respectively.

The previous study was also carried out by the GMB and the findings have angered mother-of-three Kim Stone, who was featured in the February 27 edition of the Worcester News.

At the time, she and her two children were facing homelessness after being forced to move out of her privately-rented house in the city.

She couldn't afford anywhere else and has since been given temporary accommodation in Portefields Road, Tolladine. But this is miles away from her children's school and from her workplace. The 34-year-old was disgusted at the latest findings. She said: "It think it is terrible, knowing how many people are waiting for a home. It upsets families, making them wait all the time.

"I have temporary accommodation, but it not ideal as James, aged 13, and Terri, 11, go to Christopher Whitehead School and I work at Kays. I've been told it will be six to nine months before we will be moved to somewhere more convenient."

Worcester City Council said it could not comment on the findings as the housing team was out on strike. The local authority did, however, reiterate an earlier comment that it is about to undertake a massive public consultation on the issue.

This will involve the random knocking on doors to get people talking and the distribution to every home of an eight-page document.

Councillor David Candler said: "A major problem in this city is housing for people who cannot even contemplate owning a house. This is a serious problem we have yet to scratch the surface on."