YOUNG people in Bolton are being forced to buy homes away from the areas they were brought up in because of rocketing prices.

The houses in Bolton which young people can afford are often old and of poor quality - and they do not want to live in them.

But new ones going up are being bought by people from out of town.

Now the council has carried out a major survey into the extent of the problem. And it wants Government help so that more affordable homes can be built.

A council study shows that the average price of a house in Bolton has risen from £55,961 in 1999 to £123,295 in 2006.

At the same time, the number of people applying for council and housing association homes has shot up from 1,581 to 21,422.

More than 2,000 people replied to a housing questionnaire sent out by the council last month and the information gathered is now being studied.

A council spokesman said: "The situation in Bolton is complex.

"Our current belief is that there are problems of ageing, very poor quality housing in some areas that people no longer wish to live in.

"In other areas, there is very high demand and people can no longer afford to buy housing in the areas they were brought up in."

Cllr Akhtar Zaman, the council's executive member for regeneration, said: "The rise in house prices has become a problem for low income families and people wanting to get on to the property ladder and it's something we need to tackle.

"People from outside may be buying new houses instead of local people, but economic prosperity always brings that difficulty and Bolton is an attractive place for investors.

"We need to find a solution for people on a low income, but it's not something the council by itself can deliver."

The council wants Government funding so that more local authority homes can be built.

Paul Goodman, the council's head of policy and transport planning, admitted the authority's monitoring of affordable homes needed improving.

He said: "Two or three years ago you could still buy a terraced house for £20,000, but prices have shot up."

"Whereas then a lot of council accommodation could not be let because people could afford to buy, now the council stock is full with substantial waiting lists."

Mr Goodman said a forthcoming housing development plan would look at solutions, such as getting private developers to build more affordable homes.

At present the council can only negotiate with developers to provide affordable homes on sites of more than 25 properties.

The council's latest housing land availability study shows Bolton is easily on course to provide the 7,665 homes the Regional Spacial Strategy says are needed in the town by 2021, which equates to more than 500 a year.

More than 1,841 homes received planning permission between March, 2005, and April, 2006.