More than 200 people a month are joining Peterborough City Council's housing register, as mortgages get increasingly harder to obtain.

The number of people wanting social rented accommodation has increased by 1,087 people, from April to the end of August, according to figures from the council.

A breakdown of the statistics shows the increase has been at just over 200 people each month, with the biggest jump of 219 coming in July.

It brings the total number of people on the council's housing register at the end of August to 9,552 people.

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The increase has been blamed largely on the credit crunch, which has crippled banks and building societies and made them reluctant to lend.

Many first-time home buyers are being expected to pay hefty deposits just to get a mortgage.

Now the boss of Peterborough's largest housing association is calling for more affordable homes to be built across the city.

Chief executive of Cross Keys Homes, in Peterborough, Mick Leggett said: "The reluctance of banks to lend is having a major impact on the ability of first-time buyers to access the market, with higher interest rates and much larger deposits being demanded.

"This is reflected in far fewer housing transactions and market approvals. So, despite falling prices, the housing market in Peterborough is no more affordable or accessible now than it was a year ago."

Mr Leggett added: "Cross Keys Homes is working with partners, such as the Greater Peterborough Partnership, to ensure affordable housing is given the right level of priority."

His comments come in the wake of two reports which underline the dilemma facing those who cannot afford to buy their own homes.

According to the National Housing Federation (NHF) and the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) the number of people on waiting lists for affordable housing in rural areas has soared by more than a third during the past five years, to 700,000 people.

CPRE chief executive Shaun Spiers said: "Unless action is taken now to provide the affordable homes we need, the future looks bleak for many people and their communities in the countryside."

And several weeks ago, the NHF revealed one in every 16 households in the east of England is now on a social housing waiting list.

But the city council's cabinet spokesman for housing, regeneration and economic development councillor Graham Murphy cast doubt on the accuracy of the council's own housing figures.

Cllr Murphy, who took over the housing role four months ago, said: "The figures have not been updated for three years. They might not reflect the true nature of the local economy. "I am writing to everyone on the list asking them to register again to see if they should still be there."

How register can identify need

PETERBOROUGH City Council has not owned any social housing since October 2004, when its stock was transferred to Cross Keys Homes.

The council is now responsible for keeping its housing register up to date. It categorises those on the register according to need. It advertises vacancies in the city's 20,000 housing association stock to people on the register. The homes are owned by a number of housing associations.

Those on the register will have various types of housing need but few are actually sleeping rough.

The council's yearly count shows there are about 10 people sleeping rough at any one time