FAMILIES who have lived in the historic village of Lacock for generations could be forced to seek cheaper accommodation elsewhere because of rising National Trust rents.

This is one of several concerns that Leo Stevens, co-ordinator of Lacock Tenants' Association, will be raising at the trust's annual meeting in Manchester on November 4.

The trust has nearly 100 tenants in Lacock and owns many of the properties in the village.

Mr Stevens, 67, was born in Lacock and has lived there for most of his life.

He said rent increases on trust properties every two years were significantly above the rate of inflation, and he feared they could compel families to buy homes in other villages because mortgage repayments would be cheaper than their rents in Lacock.

He said: "There are people on a reasonable income who can't afford to rent in the village any more, which is a real shame. These families are part of Lacock's history and should be encouraged to stay."

Mr Stevens has also asked the trust to explain why there is such a wide range of occupancy agreements in the village, including peppercorn rents, registered protected tenancies, shorthold tenancies and long leases.

National Trust property manager for Lacock, Graham Heard, said: "The trust has a policy of letting its properties in Lacock to local people at affordable rates typically between half and two-thirds of market rents. It foregoes £50,000 in rent to provide affordable housing for local people."