A young couple have been helped to break out of rented accommodation by a government-backed shared equity scheme.

William Dalton and Michelle Lee had been renting an apartment in Eastbourne for three years and were keen to find somewhere roomier and more rural, but a lack of finance held them back.

However, HomeBuy Direct and developers Barratt were able to give them a leg up after they discovered a two-bedroom, semi-detached home in the village of Hailsham.

"It's a cracking scheme which means that young professionals like us can afford to buy a great property at a reasonable price," said Mr Dalton.

Barratt is backing the HomeBuy Direct initiative with 3,000 homes available under the scheme across the UK, including more than 70 located in East Sussex.

The developer this month held an open day in Bridgwater, Somerset to raise awareness of the affordable homes available in the south west.

Source: Direct News 24/4/09