Progress is being made to develop affordable housing at the Trinity Street tennis courts in Dorchester.

And a town councillor for the county town has said has expressed that the sooner affordable housing is built in the area, the better.

As reported, Dorchester Town Council is looking to develop affordable housing at sites it owns in the county town.

The Trinity Street tennis court site has been recognised as one that could be developed after the relocation of the tennis courts to the bowling green in the Borough Gardens.

A previous report before the council stated that housing prices locally start at £150,000 and average earnings are at around £25,000 and so there is a "clear affordability gap".

The report also recognised both a general need for social housing but also the need to find solutions to support young people to be able to live in the town that they work in.

Town councillor, David Taylor said: "It's great to see affordable housing being built in the town and I think it's important that we get all the housing built and up and running as soon as possible.

"We need to keep the youth and youth employment in the town and affordable housing is one way of doing that.

"It is a major thing to be able to provide more affordable housing in Dorset.

"As a council we are doing everything we can for the community."

Adrian Stuart from Dorchester Town Council added: "At the moment a lot of background work is going in to the development and we are in the process of forming the Community Land Trust to help steer the project.

"The tennis courts will be moving to the bowling green and once all the background and archaeological work is complete, we will be at a better position to say what is happening.

"We should know more about the development by the end of August but progress is being made."

The bowling green at the gardens dates back to the early 20th century, with the Dorchester Bowling Club established in 1906.

The town council has been debating the future of the bowling green since 2010, when the bowling club was wound up.

Initial proposals included a mini-golf facility but there were difficulties with funding and it was decided that tennis courts would provide the most suitable use.