AFFORDING a home is the biggest worry for residents in rural parts of the region, according to a report.

And many of them expect it to get worse, said the Skelton-based Yorkshire Rural Community Council (YRCC).

The council carried out its survey with parish councils and community groups.

YRCC chief executive Ian Strong said 33.4 per cent of people thought the provision of affordable housing had gone down in the past year.

More than 22 per cent believed it would fall further in the coming 12 months.

There was also deep concern about school closures and lack of childcare facilities in rural areas but 24 per cent of people expected the position to improve.

Other issues on which people thought services had declined in the past year included police and community safety, down 28.8 per cent, and shops, down 24.6 per cent.

Fourteen per cent thought transport had declined although 23.7 said it had improved.

Other areas identified as in decline included health and community care, down 12 per cent and pubs, down 11.7 per cent.

Thirty six per cent of people thought information and communication technology had improved.