Ealing will fight for its share of £250 million which has been set aside by the government to ensure affordable housing for teachers.

Stephen Byers, Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, will unveil the financial package in September when the local authority will be looking for money to fill 116 teaching vacancies in the borough.

Mr Byers said: "We should not have a situation where teachers are priced out of employment in London."

A council report in May of this year revealed that there are 56 vacancies in Ealing's primary schools, 55 in secondary schools and five in special needs schools.

According to Cllr Shital Manro, the council cabinet member in charge of People Asset Management, Ealing has a problem recruiting teachers, nurses and filling other social services appointments in the borough.

Cllr Manro said: "Though we already have some schemes with housing associations up and running, we do have trouble recruiting people to these industries because it is so much cheaper to move outside London when looking to buy a house."

He continued: "Ideally, we'd have more people moving into the borough with their families to work here long term so that services could stabilise. We therefore welcome the move and hope that Ealing will benefit from the money."

Conservative spokesman for developing young people, Cllr Ian Gibb said: "We have a shortage of teachers in Ealing.

"That is a worry considering that the latest figures for students applying to undergraduate courses in education are down by 11 per cent."