A MAJOR housing survey has confirmed fears that Ribble Valley villages are in danger of becoming dormitories for the wealthy.

House prices in Chipping are 88 per cent higher than the average for the rest of Lancashire, according to the findings.

And the village was also highlighted as 25 per cent more expensive than any other area in the Ribble Valley.

The results are part of the first phase of Ribble Valley Council's housing needs survey, aimed at tackling the shortage of affordable homes in the rural borough.

Last year Rebecca Lawlor, an environmental engineer, was given a specially-created role to address the problem of first time buyers being forced to move out of the area to get on to the property ladder.

Mrs Lawlor, who carried out the survey said: "Chipping is a typical example of a rural parish that is in danger of becoming a dormitory village.

"Its price differentials can be disastrous for communities, as local people are priced out of the market.

"Our villages risk becoming dormitories for the wealthy."

Ribble Valley property prices have seen a 100 per cent hike since 2001, whereas incomes have risen by nine per cent.

A two-bedroomed terrace in a typical Ribble Valley village now costs up to £150,000 almost double the price of similar houses in the rest of East Lancashire and around £4,000 more expensive than their South East equivalent.

Earlier this year a former grain mill in Waddington was converted into 11 affordable houses, sold on a shared ownership basis with the help of Manchester-based St Vincent's Housing Association.

Joyce Holgate, chairman of the borough council's housing committee, said: "Affordable housing is a huge concern in Ribble Valley, with many first-time buyers now unable to get on the housing ladder.

"Young people with long histories in Ribble Valley cannot afford to live in the area, because house prices are so high.

"We have been doing all we can to tackle the problem and will be using the results of the housing needs survey to press for further help for local first-time buyers."

The second phase of the survey will look at 12 more areas in the Ribble Valley before planning applications will be made to build suitable housing in the areas that need it.

The survey results can be viewed at www.ribblevalley.gov.uk