First-time buyers hoping to purchase a rural property face a tougher task than those looking at urban homes, a new report has revealed.

According to its latest annual Rural Housing Review, the Halifax has reported that the average house price in rural areas now stands at £246,000, equivalent to 7.1 times the average yearly income.

In comparison, the average cost of a home in the UK''s towns and cities is now £215,000, or 6.2 times the annual income.

First-time buyers are particularly struggling to buy homes in the country, with just 13 per cent of all property in rural areas set aside as social housing compared to around 20 per cent of urban property.

First-time buyers account for just 17 per cent of home buyers in the countryside, while the proportion currently stands at 20 per cent in urban areas, the report also revealed.

"Those living in rural areas face particularly tough housing market conditions," said Martin Ellis, chief economist at the Halifax.

"In general, higher average property prices, together with lower earnings, mean that housing is less affordable than in urban areas. Many young people, in particular, are therefore finding it tough to get a foot on the property ladder. This difficult situation is compounded by lower levels of provision of social housing in rural areas."