ACTION is needed to create more affordable homes in the North York Moors National Park in the wake of a dramatic leap in property prices, a planning chief has warned.

The cost of homes in the area has soared by 30pc in the last year.

The average house price in the area is now £345,440 - up from £265,220 in 2003. This compares with an average of £167,180 in North Yorkshire and a UK average of £166,404.

A drop in the number of properties for sale in the park since 2000 has pushed up prices, although there has been a small rise in the number available this year - up to 128 from 98.

But this is still only a fraction of the number of properties for sale in previous years and of those on the market, only one is valued under £100,000.

Presenting a housing survey report to the national park authority's planning committee, its chief planning officer, Val Dilcock, said: "The thing which surprised us this year was the sheer scale of the increase, which has meant a huge jump in prices."

She said the figures were "slightly skewed" by homes costing more than £1m.

"But it highlights the fears that housing is a big issue and one we need to address as a planning authority and work with housing authorities to do as much as we can to provide affordable homes within the national park," she said.

"Since 1991, when we began compiling figures, 902 homes have been completed - ahead of our target figure.

"We are ahead of the game, but this does not address the issue of affordable housing."

Derek Tyson, manager of Northallerton Estate Agency - one of those taking part in the survey - said: "Property prices in the national park have been going up higher and higher for some years and are considerably more than local people who earn their living in the area can afford.

"It is the eternal problem - people from outside coming in to buy homes."

Mr Tyson said local people had "virtually no chance" of getting on the housing ladder.

"It is simple economics and it's hard to buck the market," he said. "You build affordable homes, people buy them and then they want to cash in."

The report to the planning committee said the figures illustrate the problem faced by many local people who are unable to afford housing in the national park, especially those wanting a first step on the property ladder.

The report said the average price was distorted by the considerable number of larger-than-average homes for sale within the park at the moment. Many are coming with extras such as swimming pools, land, stables and annexes, and this inflates the asking price.

For the purposes of an annual house price and land survey, a median figure has been calculated at £295,000. This is felt to be more realistic than the mean average, which includes the very expensive homes.

But this year 29pc of homes were valued at more than £400,000.

Three are for sale at above £1m - 2pc of the total.

Most of the houses for sale are in the £150,000 to £199,999 bracket. This is closely followed by those worth £350,000 to £399,999 and then by those for sale at £450,000 to £499,999.

In the £100,000 to £149,999 range, just 19 homes are for sale.

Estate agents are reporting an increasingly limited number of properties available and it is now common for the price of homes to exceed valuation figures with houses going to the highest bidder.

Many agents are worried about the lack of property available to first-time buyers.

Average prices are high in all four of the park's districts - Hambleton, Ryedale, Scarborough and Redcar and Cleveland.

Throughout the area, a detached home is now worth £439,432 on average; a semi £206,295 and a terraced house £186,440.

And vendors are using the park as a selling point.

This year overall, 52pc of properties advertised that they are located within the park. But the figure varies from 21pc in Redcar and Cleveland, 38pc in Scarborough, 71pc in Ryedale and 88pc in Hambleton.