Residents of six villages in the Great Yarmouth borough are being asked if they are interested in joining a trust scheme looking at new and affordable homes.

A public meeting will be held to introduce the Community Land Trust (CLT) scheme to residents in Belton, Hopton, Bradwell, Burgh Castle, Fritton and St Olaves.

Designed for the community to get together to develop and manage new homes where they live, CLTs determine what housing they want based on the needs and aspirations of villages involved.

A CLT is free from council and government control where all assets will be owned by the community.

They provide housing with the main aim to ensure the homes are genuinely affordable and based on what people actually earn in the area.

Types of affordable housing organised by the trust can include discounted rent, shared ownership and fixed market value homes.

Play areas, pubs, allotments and other public areas can also be owned by CLTs.

The CLT information meeting will take place on Wednesday, August 2 at 7pm at the New Road Sports and Leisure Centre in Belton for those who are interested in becoming a trustee, a member of the prospective trust or finding out more.

Andy Grant, chairman of the borough council's housing and neighbourhoods committee, said: 'The council is exploring Community Land Trusts as a model for community-led housing development, thanks to some targeted government funding.

'We are holding this initial meeting where we think there is some interest, but we would love to hear from other communities which might be interested in setting up their own trust.

'Community Land Trusts provide an opportunity for a community in a rural or urban area to provide local homes for local people at prices which are affordable on local wages.'

The borough council's says one of its top priorities is to work towards good quality housing that is fit for purpose for all as well as meeting existing and future needs.

As part of the government's 2016 budget, a £60m fund was announced to support community-led housing developments in areas where the impact of second homes is particularly acute. Yarmouth's Borough Council was awarded £650,000.