Affordable housing threat

RURAL communities could "shrivel and die" if government fails to build enough affordable housing in the countryside, campaigners have warned.

Official figures showed that local authorities planned to build only a fraction of the required number of inexpensive homes in 2010-11.

The Countryside Alliance, which obtained the figures through Freedom of Information requests, warned it could lead to the break-up of communities and the loss of services.

Rural and urban councils across England, Wales and Scotland were asked how many affordable homes they planned to create in 2010-11, and how many were required.