East Portlemouth, near Salcombe, has the highest percentage of second homes in the South Hams, figures show.

Nearly half (49.65 per cent) of the houses in the seaside village are second homes, according to figures from the South Hams District Council (SHDC).

East Portlemouth, with its picturesque views and sandy beaches, commands some of the highest property prices in the area and is a magnet for wealthy individuals looking for a holiday home.

Seventy-one of the 143 properties in East Portlemouth are second homes.

In Salcombe, 43 per cent of properties are second homes and in South Huish, the figure is 42 per cent.

The problem is also bad in Chivelstone, where nearly 39 per cent of the houses are second homes.

Thurlestone (33 per cent), Dittisham (31 per cent), Bigbury (30 per cent), South Pool (27 per cent), Kingswear (25 per cent), Dartmouth (20 per cent) and Ringmore (20 per cent) are also badly affected by the second home phenomenon.

In Kingsbridge, meanwhile, second homes represent just 6 per cent of all housing units, the SHDC figures show.

Places such as Modbury (5 per cent), Ermington (4 per cent), Totnes (3 per cent), Dartington (2 per cent), Bickleigh (1 per cent) and Ivybridge (0.4 per cent) also have a relatively low percentage of second homes.

For the whole of the South Hams district, just over 10 per cent of properties are used part time.

In 2003, the SHDC became the first council in England to reduce the council tax discount given to second home owners.

The council decided to reduce the second home owners discount from 50 per cent to 10 per cent.

According to the SHDC, the measure has helped to raise an extra £2m a year. This money has been spent on a number of affordable housing projects in the area.

The 90 per cent rate is the maximum permitted under the Local Government Act 2003.

The average cost of a property in the South Hams is more than £280,000, while local workers earn an average salary of just £15,000.