Dozens of people in North Devon who cannot afford to buy a home attended a meeting to find out more about building their own.

Members of the Great Tor and Torrington District Community Co-build Association met council and housing officials on Monday night to set out ideas for a self-build eco-home scheme.

The plan to build 70 homes on land just outside Torrington is the brainchild of local stonemason Gabriel Hummerstone.

He said more than 50 local people have already shown an interest in the scheme.

What we are trying to do with this project is to take control of our lives

Gabriel Hummerstone

"We came up with a mission statement at the meeting to communicate to people that it is achievable," he said.

"So many country people feel so disenfranchised and what we are trying to do with this project is to take control of our lives.

"We need to get the message about the scheme out to as many people as possible, especially those who don't think they would be able to build their own house."

Traditional skills

The meeting was held at the Plough Arts Centre in Torrington and representatives from other similar schemes attended as well as local architect Clive Jones, who said he was impressed with the enthusiasm of those behind the plan.

The scheme received �500 from the Market and Coastal Towns Initiative to kickstart the project and Mr Hummerstone said they planned to use traditional skills to build the units.

"We plan to build the houses of cob, which is a local traditional and ecologically sustainable material.

"Affordable housing can also be ecologically sound," he said.