TEACHERS, police and health care workers in Maidstone are to receive Government grants to help them buy houses.

Maidstone council has successfully bid for money from the Government's Starter Homes Initiative on behalf of three local housing associations.

The initiative is a three-year, £250 million fund created to help key-workers across the country buy their first homes in high-cost housing areas.

The Moat Housing Group has been granted £677,000, Hyde Housing Association £300,000 and Town and Country £100,000 to provide loans or shared ownership schemes to a total of 45 key workers over the next three years.

Maidstone council's housing services manager, Peter Skinner, welcomed the announcement. He said: "The council is keen to work with the housing associations to help meet the housing needs of key workers in Maidstone, giving them the opportunity to live in the community which they serve."