One in every 27 properties in Devon and Cornwall is a holiday home, according to a Western Morning News (WMN) survey.

The figures show that 14,694 homes in Devon are used part time, while this figure is 13,251 in Cornwall.

There are over 20,000 empty properties across both counties, and nearly half of these have been empty for more than six months, the survey revealed.

The growth of second homes has become a massive issue in the South Hams, which according to the WMN survey, is the worst affected area in Devon.

The South Hams is home to 4,869 holiday homes - 11.7 per cent of the total housing stock.

East Portlemouth, a picturesque village near Salcombe, has been dubbed the second home capital of the South Hams.

Tim Jones, Devon and Cornwall Business Council: "These figures indicate that we're making very little progress right across all the sectors. We are nowhere near to keeping pace of the problem of affordable housing."

Nearly half of the houses in the picturesque seaside village are used on a part-time basis, figures from the South Hams District Council (SHDC) show.

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

In Salcombe, 43 per cent of properties are holiday 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 used part time.

The growing number of second homes in the South Hams is helping to push house prices out of reach of the local population.

Local people have become increasingly frustrated that so many properties are lying empty for much of the year, while they find it impossible to get on the property ladder.

In November 2003, South Hams became the first council in the country to cut discounts on council tax for second homes.

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 WMN survey revealed that 1,468 affordable homes are expected to be built in Devon this financial year.

Tim Jones, chairman of Devon and Cornwall Business Council, told the WMN: "These figures indicate that we're making very little progress right across all the sectors.

"We are nowhere near to keeping pace of the problem of affordable housing," he added.

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.