NEW methods of providing low cost housing in a national park are being explored to help people who have grown up in the area stay there.

Rising house prices have taken their toll on communities in the Yorkshire Dales, with some people unable to buy properties.

Next month, a study commissioned by the Upper Wensleydale Community Partnership will assess the feasibility of establishing a Community Housing Investment Trust.

If set up the trust would ask residents and public and private investors in Swaledale, Upper Wensleydale and Arken- garthdale to contribute to a housing fund to support others when buying properties.

Peter Annison, partnership chairman who had the idea for the trust, said: "Young people are moving away from the Dales and, after their studies, finding there is little for them to come back for.

"To maintain a stable community we need these young people to take jobs and be able to afford to live here. The difficulty at the moment is that there doesn't seem to be a bridge between rising house prices and low income jobs."

The housing fund would provide a pot of money for those from the area who would struggle to pay the entire sum for a property.

"The trust will allow people who may have some money tucked away to invest in a scheme which will help the local community thrive.

"If at any point they want their money back they will be able to do that, with interest dependent on the house prices," said Mr Annison,who is also a member of the Richmondshire Local Strategic Partnership helping to promote the project.

The feasibility study to explore the proposals is being funded and supported by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, regional development agency Yorkshire Forward, the Countryside Agency and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.