by political editor Paul Francis

Changes to benefit rules could lead to a mass exodus of families from London to some of Kent’s most deprived towns, the leader of Kent County Council has warned.

Cllr Paul Carter (Con) told a housing conference it was clear that limits on housing benefits would trigger a major influx of benefit-dependant families into the county.

He said that could jeopardise the progress that was being made to tackle deprivation and encourage regeneration in poorer areas of Kent.

"I have enormous concerns about the benefit changes because it is clear they will cause a massive dispersal of families from London and are benefit dependant into the Home Counties in and around London.

"It could turn into a torrid situation where poorer people are forced out of London into Kent, particularly where there is cheaper housing, which will exacerbate the problems we are facing."

His comments echo warnings from Thanet council bosses last year, when chief executive Richard Samuel said the changes risked a re-run of the phenomenon of "dole-on-sea" towns that were put under pressure by large numbers of benefit claimants moving into cheaper accommodation.

The government is to cap housing benefits to a maximum of £400 a week for a four-bedroomed property.

That has led to fears that local councils in London will look to place families outside the capital for less costly housing.

Head teachers in Thanet have already expressed misgivings over the number of looked-after children being sent to the area from London and say they will no longer take any more because of the pressure on schools.

There have been estimates that as many as 82,000 people in private rented accommodation could be forced out of the capital by the government’s changes.

Mr Carter made his comments at a seminar organised by the Kent Housing Group held in Ashford.