A YOUNG mother who lives in a tiny flat above a fish and chip shop has made a plea for more affordable housing in her area.

Kerry Searson shares a room with her eight-week-old daughter, Jamie, and two-year-old son, Jordan, in her mother's two-bedroom flat in Ampleforth.

The flat is cramped, and Kerry can only use the kitchen and bathroom when the shop downstairs is closed.

And although the 19-year-old is on Ryedale Housing Association's waiting list, she is worried how long she must stay at her mother's home.

"I cannot use the kitchen while the chip shop is open because they are using it, and so I have to go in and make up the baby's bottles before it opens," she said.

Kerry, who grew up in the village, said she desperately needed her own space.

"I'm worried because usually houses come up in the village every nine years or so, but there have been two just recently and there might not be any more for a long time.

"I don't know what I will do."

The central area manager at Ryedale Housing Association, Joan Gibbs, said: "Ryedale District Council has done a housing needs survey, and we are guided by where we have big waiting lists. If we have enough money for new housing, then that is where we will build.

"Up to now, most of the villages did not have a big waiting list, but as the kids are growing up we are now realising that if we want to keep them here we need jobs and low-cost housing."