WE SEE with real interest the massive climb in house prices over this country and we also see the plight of people who cannot get a house because they have been priced out of the market.

We are also seeing interest rates creeping up in an effort to stem the flow of borrowing that puts an extra burden on the shoulders of us all. What is causing this?

First, there is a fixed number of starter homes in this country and until recently there was only a relatively small number of people competing for them - let us say 200 people for every 100 houses.

Now, because the stock market has had a blip, millions of pounds has been poured into investing in property. So instead of 200 people chasing 100 houses we have 1,000 after the same few - and so the prices have rocketed.

I heard recently of some chap investing £180k in six terraced houses and selling them just a few months later for £540k. So thousands of people are now working harder because we are supporting people like this who invest in property so that they can make their money off our backs.

Those who say that this happens in all 'markets' are wrong. There are only a fixed number of houses and we all need to live somewhere.

The problem is fairly easy to solve - just make it unattractive for anyone to invest in property which is designed for people to live in.

I have written to my MP on this matter but have had no reply. Perhaps anyone who agrees with me should do the same.

Phill Brookman, Shepshed.