FINANCIAL COSTS OF LIVING IN SWINDON: PUBLIC sector workers such as teachers are also disadvantaged by the housing market.

Laura Whateley has been teaching for three years and earns around £21,000.

She bought a one-bedroom flat in North Street, Old Town, a year ago for £95,000.

But the 27-year-old said she could only afford to do so because of help from Swindon Council.

The authority lends key workers money to use as a deposit for starter homes and Sarah borrowed £20,000 interest-free.

Laura, who works at Lethbridge Primary School, has to repay the money if she leaves teaching.

"That was the only way I could afford to buy the house and that is an incentive to work in Swindon.

"Even with the loan I was only able to afford a one-bedroom flat.

"But I wanted to live in Old Town. I wanted to live where I teach.

"It is lucky the council has that scheme otherwise there was no way I could have done it."

The Starter Homes Initiative is run by a company called Sarcen on Swindon Council's behalf.

But not all new teachers can benefit from it, because it only applies to first homes.

Laura's colleague Emma Lindsay, 28, is on the same salary and has been teaching for the same length of time.

She bought a two-bedroom house in Wootton Bassett under a shared ownership deal for £48,000, eight years ago.

But now she wants her own house in Swindon but is finding it difficult to move here.

She said: "I would like to live nearer the school but I just can't afford it."