KEY workers in the New Forest are being giving an opportunity to find affordable accommodation as house prices continue to rise in the district.

A range of houses and flats are now available for health workers and county and district council employees in Fordingbridge.

Civic leaders are keen to help essential public services to recruit and retain staff after average earners were priced out of the housing market across the Forest.

"We know there must be people working in these sectors looking for accommodation," said Peter Greenfield, New Forest District Council's portfolio holder for housing.

"The eight houses and flats are specifically for people doing essential work in the public sector, such as teachers, nurses, care workers, other people in the health service and those working for New Forest District Council or Hampshire County Council.

"They are almost ready for occupation and we hope to see them allocated very soon."

The key workers housing scheme was launched last year as part of a wider initiative between New Forest District Council and Swaythling Housing Society.

A mixture of 25 houses and flats has been built under the scheme in Fordingbridge. They are almost ready for occupation and eligible staff can apply to rent the two-bedroom houses and one-bedroom flats in West Street in the heart of the town.

Eight have already been allocated to key workers and those who are already living in Fordingbridge are being given priority on the remaining 17 units.

Between 1999 and 2003 house prices in Hampshire rose by more than 60 per cent but income levels have not matched the increases.

Housing chiefs hope the key worker scheme will help to address the impact this has had on workers who help to provide the education, health, emergency and transport services that the district needs.

Francisco De Luca, from the Hampshire branch of UNISON, said: "It won't solve the problem but at least it will alleviate it. I think it's an excellent scheme and very useful."

Anyone interested in renting one of the homes should contact the New Forest District Council Housing Needs team on 023 8028 5234 or talk to Lawrence Blake at the Swaythling Housing Society on 023 8048 7487.