MORE than 700 people across Worcestershire have now used the Government's £9.7 billion Help to Buy scheme to get on the property ladder - a rise of nearly 50 per cent in seven months.

Newly-released data shows how 706 people have taken advantage of the offer, which allows first-time buyers to obtain a home with a deposit of just five per cent.

It stood at 473 at the end of March, meaning in recent months the popularity of Help to Buy has soared 49 per cent.

The data for Worcestershire includes 135 in Worcester, 190 in Wychavon, 41 in Malvern, 116 in Wyre Forest, 107 in Redditch and 117 in Bromsgrove.

Housing minister Brandon Lewis said: "The figures clearly demonstrate the continuing success of the Help to Buy in supporting creditworthy, hardworking people who want to buy a home of their own.

"Over 54,000 new homeowners have now used the schemes as a valuable alternative to the 'bank of mum and dad', enabling them to buy with a fraction of the deposit they would normally require.

"But it’s also got Britain building and since the scheme’s launch private housebuilding starts has increased by a third."

Under the scheme, the Government underwrites the remaining 20 per cent deposit normally needed so lenders can hand over the keys.

It applies on properties worth up to £600,000, subject to lending approval, although the average value of a home bought under Help to Buy is less than £180,000.

More than 54,000 people nationally have now taken advantage of it.

In recent weeks the data has led to clashes in Worcester, with Labour's city parliamentary candidate Councillor Joy Squires saying the scheme is "fuelling debt" and pushing up prices artificially.

Worcester MP Robin Walker says without the scheme, many more people would be locked out the housing market.

"Thousands of families and first-time buyers across the country are now able to achieve their dream of owning their own home where they can enjoy security and a better quality of life," he said.

The normal deposit for a house is 25 per cent.