DIVIDED Nantwich families are angry that a raw deal in housing allocations is forcing young people to leave the area while Crewe 'outsiders' flood into the town.

Residents are appealing to borough landlord Wulvern Housing to change the points system as the scales are currently weighted against some youngsters already living in Nantwich or with strong family ties there.

Cllr Brian Silvester said: "Young people are being forced to move out of their home town whilst, at the same time, outsiders from Crewe are being imported in.

"We should be trying to keep families together in Nantwich - we want to improve the community spirit in the town and you do not do that by breaking up families and moving them away."

During 2004/5 23 per cent of the 75 housing allocations in Nantwich went to people from outside the area, with two thirds of those moving from Crewe.

This is despite the fact that there are 350 Nantwich town and rural applicants on the waiting list.

Bosses at Wulvern, which has managed the borough council's housing stock since March 2003, insist that all applications are treated equally and fairly.

Area manager Nick Powell said: "No priority is given to applications received from the Crewe area from those wishing to take up residence in Nantwich."

As housing prices in the town have risen dramatically in recent years, first-time buyers from Nantwich are struggling to purchase a house in the place they grew up - their only chance of staying near their families is to join the housing list.

Harold and Susan Cooper have lived in Nantwich all their lives and their 30-year-old son, Timothy, was born in the town.

After getting married last year, Timothy and his wife, Sandra, are still forced to live with his parents even though they say four nearby homes have become available in the last few months and have gone to people from Crewe, mainly single parents.

Mr Cooper said: "Our son was born and bred here and wants to stay as his wife works here too, but living with your parents is not the best start to married life. Wulvern's points system means he may have to move away."