Rural communities are becoming holiday homes for the rich, the Liberal Democrats warned today.

“The most stunning parts of our country should not be the enclaves of the rich and retired, party leader Nick Clegg said.

“They should be communities for everyone.”

The party said local authorities must be sanctioned to create more social housing and address the rural housing crisis by abandoning national targets.

“Recession means tougher times for rural communities and tougher decisions for how we use land. So more than ever we need a vision for rural England,” Mr Clegg said.

“We believe our countryside should be vibrant. Villages and towns should not be denied vital services. Rural enterprise, jobs and prosperity should be encouraged to flourish,” he added.