MORE than 100 people have been able to purchase a house in West Dorset thanks to the Government's Help To Buy scheme.

Figures released by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government show there were 104 uses of Help to Buy in Weymouth and Portland from quarter two of 2013 up to quarter three of 2017.

In the same period, there were 101 in North Dorset, 35 in Purbeck and 48 in Weymouth and Portland.

The full figures for 2017 are not currently available.

Councillor Tim Yarker, West Dorset District Council's spokesman for housing said: "The Help to Buy scheme, alongside affordable housing provision, helps to provide homes that are attainable for residents.

"Although our figures are in line with other Dorset districts, we realise more needs to be done to match our neighbouring areas such as South Somerset and East Devon."

Overall equity loans totalling £14,480,853 were given out to home buyers across those areas, which under the scheme must be repaid within 25 years of purchasing the house or the equivalent percentage of any future sale must be repaid to the Homes and Communities Agency.

The loan covers 20 per cent of the cost to purchase a new build home, making them available to all who wish to buy a new home, but may be constrained in doing so.