The latest census results show an urgent need for more affordable housing in Devon, according to the county council.

Devon County Council says the growing population in the county is putting more pressure on Devon's stock of social housing.

Devon has had a growth in population of 17.6% since 1981.

This adds up to a demand for more and more accommodation - but the stock of social housing in the county has not increased in the last 10 years, the council says.

Fastest growing

The total population of the county was officially recorded at 1,074,919, including the Plymouth and Torbay unitary authorities, on census day on 29 April 2001 - an increase of 105,300 people.

This made it the fastest growing county in the fastest growing region of England, according to the census.

The South West grew by 12.5% from 1981 to 2001, compared with an average rate for England of 5%.

To make things more difficult, the number of people living alone has risen by more than a quarter.

Average earnings

According to council figures in 1971, a population of 100,000 needed 36,600 dwellings to accommodate them.

In 2001, the same population now needs 43,700.

Devon County Council wants to see at least a third of all new homes being built in in the county being made affordable for local people.

Average earnings in Devon are currently among the lowest in the country, at around �20,000.

The average house price in the county is around �140,000, seven times the average salary.