'Keep enough houses for locals' - that was the plea as latest figures reveal that Dorset is among the hotspots in England for holiday homes.

Figures from the March 2021 census show that the south west has the highest concentration of holiday homes compared with other English regions and Wales, at 7.5 for every 1,000 homes.

In some parts of Dorset, one in 13 houses are holiday homes.

The figures show there were approximately 2,490 holiday homes in Dorset when the census was taken, many of these concentrated in popular areas.

In Weymouth Town, Melcombe Regis & Rodwell the number of holiday homes was 2.83%.

Jon Orell, the Dorset Council councillor for Melcombe Regis, Weymouth, said: "Second homes can be a problem if it ends up depriving locals of affordable housing.

"It is not as bad as some other areas, but it is important we keep enough houses for locals."

According to the census, the highest rate of holiday homes in Dorset was in Swanage, where 7.83% of homes are used as holiday homes and in Corfe Castle & Langton Matravers it was 6.61%.

In Lyme Regis, Charmouth & Marshwood Vale 7.48% of properties are holiday homes.

Cheryl Reynolds, Lyme Regis councillor, said: "I think we need to stop more holiday lets because there's going to be nothing left.

"It is not just here, it is a lot of seaside homes.

"Young people cannot afford to purchase a home in Lyme Regis and it pushes prices up."

In West Dorset, Burton Bradstock & Chideock had 4.69% and Bridport South & West Bay had 3.02%.

Bridport councillor Dave Bolwell believes that high numbers of holiday homes have a knock-on effect on the area.

He said: "We welcome holidaymakers and the benefits they bring to the area but with second homes we have grave concerns about the effect it has on our affordable homes.

"It has a knock-on effect on key workers, and young people cannot afford to live in their area."

A proposal to implement a 100% council tax premium on second homes received broad support in Dorset Council, although it has not been formally agreed as the council is waiting for the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill to complete its passage through Parliament to become law.

A council spokesperson said: “The proposal to introduce council tax premiums on second homes and empty properties continues to be something we are keen to explore, following constructive discussions at the Overview Committee and Cabinet. We will watch the progress of the government’s new Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill closely and bring this to Full Council once the legislation has passed.”

Generation Rent, a campaign group aimed at protecting renters' rights, said the high concentration of holiday homes is "taking properties out of the reach of people who need somewhere to live".

Dan Wilson Craw, deputy director at Generation Rent, said: "Airbnb has made owning a holiday home more lucrative and we saw a huge increase over the pandemic when international travel was suspended for much of 2021.

"This, combined with a renewed effort to build more houses nationwide, is the only way that renters in holiday hotspots will be able to feel they are not at risk of being driven out of the communities they want to build their lives, stay with their families and contribute to society in."