Second home owners say they contribute to the local economy

The comments come as many people with second properties are back in the area for Christmas and the New Year.

Devon and Cornwall have some of the most highly populated areas of the UK with second homes. In the South Hams area of south Devon, 11% of properties are second homes and in north Cornwall, the figure is 8%

Now several councils in Devon are planning to cut council tax reductions available to second properties.

People with second homes don't just sit in them, count their money and eat their sandwiches Karen Ramsey

But despite a lower number of second homes than elsewhere in the region, some local people believe second home ownership is causing a problem.

One local woman said: "The real local people object to it and the normal working class object to it, because prices are so high.

"Because other people have bought all the houses up, locals can't afford to buy and their children can't afford to buy."

However, second property owner Karen Ramsey says people such as her have become an easy target.

She said: "We know that there are a few members of the population that don't have the money to buy a home anywhere really, we don't have a lot of housing available and there are worries about inflation.

"But it all comes to a point where people see a second homeowner and it's the only thing they actually see.

'Saturation point'

"Other forces are out there. But people turn around, see the second home owners and say 'if he weren't doing this, then everything would be fine'."

She said compared to former owner of her thatched cottage, she and her husband, plus families they rent the property out to, are adding substantially to the local economy.

She said: "People with second homes don't just sit in them, count their money and eat their sandwiches.

"They go out and do the same things that everybody else does."

Bill Williams, who has a holiday home in Chagford where about 5% of total households are second homes, says although the number of second homes in the area has increased, more affordable housing is also needed.

He said: "No one has really said anything to us. I think there might have been some resistance initially.

"It is reaching saturation point, but what to do about it is difficult."