MORE than 650 homes in East Lancashire have been purchased with Help to Buy loans by first-time buyers.

Official figures from the Department for Communities and Local Government show 666 properties were bought under the scheme by April 2016 after the scheme was launched in 2013.

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Figures show 190 homes in Burnley were bought in this way, with 138 in the Ribble Valley, 126 in Rossendale, 114 in Blackburn with Darwen, 98 in Hyndburn and just 20 in Pendle.

In nearby Chorley, 658 homes were purchased with Help to Buy assistance, just eight less that the sum for the six East Lancashire boroughs, in the same period.

This puts it at eight out of 325 local authority areas in England for the rate of loans per household.

The low figure in Pendle puts it at 311 out of 325 local authority areas in England.

Experts have said the scheme could force up new build house prices.

Roger Harding, of charity Shelter, said: “While a Help To Buy equity loan might help some first-time buyers on to the ladder, in the short-term there is a risk it will push up house prices making it even tougher for others to buy a home in the future.

“If the government really wants to tackle our housing shortage, its best bet is to start with building homes that are genuinely affordable.”