A �1.2m investment package has been approved by Devon County Council, including detailed joint proposals from county and district councillors.

The money was raised after district councils cut the council tax discount on second homes from 50% to 10%.

It will be used to help people in north Devon, Teignbridge and Torridge.

Support schemes

Of the �1.2m, about �384,000 will help provide 40 homes in Buckland, Newton Abbot; �327,000 will help towards 21 homes in The Salterns, Bideford, and �257,000 will provide housing at Hobbs Yard, Lynton.

Financial support will also be offered to schemes to help older people and people with disabilities live in their own homes, and for community safety wardens.

The partnership between the county and district councils to tackle the lack of affordable homes in Devon has been praised by local government minister Nick Raynsford as a model for the rest of the country.

The average cost of a property in Devon is more than �199,000, 10 times the average local salary.

County Council Leader Cllr Christine Channon said: "The first rung of the housing ladder is out of reach of too many people in Devon.

"We want to use this tax windfall this year to start helping that dream become a reality again for local people."