Villagers have reacted with anger after it emerged refugees are to be housed on a posh newbuild estate in their quaint hamlet where properties fetch over £700,000.

Residents living in rural Langtoft, Lincs., say there is 'an outcry' over the plans to house families fleeing war-torn countries on the £1.8 million estate.

They say local people who have been waiting for accommodation in the area should be given priority or others struggling to get on the housing ladder.

The council has bought 12 houses in the picturesque village, where property prices average £400,000, to provide housing for Afghanistan and Ukrainian refugees.

The dozen homes are the first of 21 earmarked for the scheme and are a mix of two and three-bedroom new-build houses and two-bedroom bungalows.

Housing developer Ashwood Homes boasts the 'high-specification homes' are in a 'beautiful rural location' and are listed for sale for between £600,000-£720,000.

Local resident Liz Jarman, 74, said people in Langtoft have ‘not been given one chance’ to buy a house on the development, which has 41 homes in total.

Although she believes it’s ‘wonderful’ the government is housing refugees and has ‘no objections to that’ she is angry that ‘little Langtoft’ has been chosen for half of the district’s allocation.

Liz says she believes her village is poorly suited to home refugees as there is "no infrastructure."



She added: "We want this done in their best interests, these people deserved to be helped and supported, but this is not the best way to do that. "

"My stepfather is Ukrainian, I know how hard working they are."

Another resident, who did not wish to be named, said: "We've got people struggling to get on the housing ladder and yet they find room for refugees."

"They should be going to bigger towns and cities where there's a bigger housing stock."

However, other locals disagreed and welcomes the refugees. Liam Dodds, 44, added: "They have got to go somewhere and I for one would welcome them."

"Some of these people have gone through suffering you couldn't imagine so I think we need to put things into perspective and help where we can."

"They are probably desperate families looking to catch a break, this is the least we can do for them."

South Kesteven District Council said the homes will be given to those who have arrived legally in the country before being used by families on the council’s housing register.