By Donna Werbner

Apr 16, 2007 -- /prbuzz/ -- Key public sector workers like nurses and firefighters cannot afford to live in the vast majority of towns in Britain, research from Halifax has found.

The typical nurse would now not be able to afford the average house in 99% of towns, while the average house price in 97% of towns was unaffordable for firefighters.

London and the South West present the greatest affordability problems for key workers, who cannot afford a house in any of the 32 London boroughs surveyed and all 34 towns researched in the South West.

Tim Crawford, group economist at Halifax, said: "Housing affordability continues to deteriorate for key workers across the UK and it now clearly not a problem confined to the south of England."

Surrey is the least affordable county for key workers, but Buxton in Derbyshire and Matlock in the East Midlands saw some of the largest deteriorations in affordability for key workers.

Overall, the average house price was unaffordable for teachers, police officers, paramedics, nurses and firefighters in 70% of towns. Five years ago, the average house price in only 36% of towns was unaffordable for these key public sector workers.

Flats are the most affordable for key workers, with 70% of key workers able to get on the ladder by compromising on space and buying a flat.