Families are set to benefit from a new raft of affordable homes built in a village near Dorchester.

An affordable living development of 24 homes in Charminster was opened at a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by councillors and community figures.

The new properties, built by Wyatt Homes and provided by Stonewater, are part of a wider development that will eventually bring 70 homes to the village. The homes have been developed in partnership with Dorset Council for its Opening Doors programme, encouraging the building of more affordable homes across the county.

There is a mixture of three and two-bedroom houses in the development, of which 12 will be available for rent and 12 will be for shared ownership

Jonathan Layzell, executive director of development at Stonewater, said: "Lack of affordable housing has been a real issue in the Dorchester area. The average house price is £202,000, which is more than ten times the average income of £19,800 in the area.

"Charminster is a beautiful place to live and we’re proud to be supporting local residents and providing them with genuinely affordable homes for rent."

As part of the development, Charminster’s local primary school also received support from Stonewater. The housing association funded new fencing around its playground area at the front of the school.

Cllr Graham Carr-Jones, Dorset Council’s cabinet member for housing, said: "Good quality affordable homes of this kind at Charminster are very much in demand. It is encouraging to see a mixture of different types of affordable properties on a larger, open market development.

"They are very welcome as we need to see 20,000 homes, both affordable and open market, built in north, south and west Dorset by 2033 through our Opening Doors programme."

A brand-new community hall was also built as part of the construction.

Cllr David Taylor, Dorset Council’s ward councillor for Charminster St Mary’s and deputy mayor of Dorchester, said he is "delighted" to see the homes completed.

He said: "This development by Stonewater will give local people the opportunity to continue to live and work locally, while bringing further benefits for the community in the shape of a new community hall."