HOMELESSNESS in rural parts of the North-East is increasing twice as fast as in the region's towns and cities, a report claims.

Charity Shelter said the rising cost of homes in the countryside was contributing to a huge surge in the problem.

Shelter said some rural areas in the North-East saw an increase in homeless people of 106 per cent last year.

It is calling on the Government to build more affordable homes in rural parts of the region.

Its report, Priced Out, said that many affordable council homes, which were being sold under the right to buy scheme, were not being replaced by local authorities.

This meant many people were unable to live in areas in which they grew up, which was having a negative knock-on effect for businesses, schools and communities

Shelter director Adam Sampson said: "There is something wrong when levels of homelessness are soaring and when only a fraction of sold-off council houses are being replaced.

"The failure to build homes has forced families who have lived in a town or village for generations to move away.

"Building many more affordable homes is the only genuine long-term solution to this problem."

* Shelter runs Shelterline, a free national housing advice line which is available by calling 0808 800 4444.