MORE needs to be done to keep young people in their rural communities, according to countryside campaigners.

A report published by The Commission for Rural Communities shows a lack of affordable housing, employment and training, public transport and high-speed broadband is damaging rural communities.

Rural leaders across North Lincolnshire have agreed more needs to be done to ensure rural communities are able to remain intact.

David Broadmeadow, of Humber and Wolds Rural Community Council, said: "The problem is you've got young people who will have been brought up in a rural community who would like to stay there but costs can be prohibitive.

"We have been working with North Lincolnshire Council in areas like Goxhill, Westwoodside and Kirton-in-Lindsey to bring affordable housing to our rural communities.

As chairman of Ulceby Parish Council, Ray Derbyshire fought to bring more affordable housing to the village, and agrees Parish Councils need to take the lead in delivering accommodation for the next generation of rural residents.

He said: "You can't sit around and wait for things to happen, parish councils are best placed to know where housing is most needed.

"We fought to bring new developments to the village so young people could still afford to live their, and managed to bring 10 top-notch modern homes to the area."

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