The affordable housing crisis, a decline in local services, the crippling cost of fuel and a lack of broadband coverage are all highlighted today as among the biggest challenges facing the region's rural communities.

At a time of mounting threats to country living and industry, the EDP asked an influential cross-section of campaigners and decision-makers what they considered to be their single most important issue.

The differing perspectives reveal concerns across a wide range of social, economic, political and environmental factors.

The cost of living – reflected through rising fuel, transport and housing costs – was a recurrent theme, along with the need for promises of improved broadband infrastructure to be honoured to help rural businesses.

The survey also showed the farming industry's main concern was preserving the natural environment while maximising food production to generate profits for the region's traditional industry.

Others rated the need for a sustainable planning structure highest, while the impact of climate change and rising sea levels in fragile low-lying areas like the Broads was also raised.

The spokesmen included local leaders from the Norfolk Rural Community Council, the Country Land and Business Association, the National Farmers' Union and the Campaign to Protect Rural England.

?For full report, see today's EDP.