Ref. 27964-06FINANCIAL COSTS OF LIVING IN SWINDON: SARAH and Mark have been going out for seven years and now want to buy a house together.

They both have permanent jobs Sarah is a marketing assistant and Mark, a technologist and want to move out of their parents' homes.

The couple have a combined income of £30,000 around £4,000 more than the average wage for a Swindon worker according to the GMB's survey.

They are finding it hard to find a flat or house, which they can afford.

And they say they are not the only young people in the town who are working full-time but are unable to start their own homes.

As a graduate Sarah Fearon, 23, who has a business management degree from the University of Gloucestershire, can borrow up to £100,000.

She said: "Ideally we would like to live just on the outskirts but we need to get our foot on the ladder.

"Swindon is such a convenient location and there are so many companies with head offices that it is not surprising house prices are high."

Mark Rogers, 26, says he doesn't know anyone who earns the average wage in Swindon.

He said: "It is a bit of a joke really. It is a bit deceptive because lots of people don't earn anywhere near that.

"We are finding it a real struggle to buy a house and are even thinking about renting."