HIGH salaries coupled with cheap rents have placed Copeland at the top of the country’s affordable housing list – with Barrow not far behind in fourth place.

According to the data collected by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) the average worker in Copeland takes home £2,693 a month but an average one-bedroom rental costs only £396.

Similarly in Barrow, workers enjoy a significantly high amount of take home pay as the average pay packet cashes in at £1,917 with typical rent costing £380 meaning bigger sums of money left over to spend on other things.

Furness estate agent David Corrie of Corrie and Co said: "The big attraction in the area is employment and the future prosperity that's here.

"Copeland is starting to attract more attention with BAE and GSK recruiting. "Growing numbers mean people need to look further afield and there is a lack of hotels in the area meaning people have to turn to rentals.

"With the new nuclear station in mind, if and when that is confirmed it will ramp prices up."

Shaun Dixon is one of the owners from agency PC Lettings which operates across Barrow, Dalton and Ulverston.

He wasn't shocked by the figures either and said: "It is not a surprise because there are cheap properties in both areas because of Sellafield and BAE.

"There is a strong employment market for staff and another study named Cumbria the best place in the country to raise your kids. "Low costs of property, low crime rates and jobs make it popular and it is a good market across the board."

Mr Dixon believes the reason for low rental prices in the area stem from the initially low mortgages held by landlords meaning their margin for profit also stays low- one factor accounting for abnormally high costs in London and across the south.

With many of the rental properties in Copeland being snapped up by contract workers, it would seem the area is not a preferred choice for families wanting to relocate to Cumbria.

Both Mr Corrie and Mr Dixon noted the rising costs of renting across the South Lakes as a whole meaning the ONS figures do not give a clear representation of the market but rather a quick snapshot of just one segment. Where your pay goes the furthest:

Copeland

Derby

Fylde

Barrow

North Lincolnshire

Selby

Darlington

Hartlepool

Amber Valley

West Lindsey

The most expensive places to live: Kensington and Chelsea

Westminster

City of London

Camden

Islington

Hackney

Tower

Hamlets

Hammersmith and Fulham

Lambeth

Southwark