A HOUSING charity has called on the Government to provide more family homes following a report showing that turbercolosis (TB) rates are rising in Waltham Forest.

The Primary Care Trust's annual public health report showed that the borough had its highest rate of TB in decades.

TB now affects 52 out of every 100,000 Waltham Forest people, which is above the London rate of 46 per 100,000 and dwarfs the England and Wales average of 14.7 per 100,000.

The findings showed a link between overcrowded housing and rates of TB. The densely-populated areas of the borough, such as Leyton, Cathall and Cann Hall wards, are most affected.

Shelter chief executive Adam Sampson said: "It comes as no surprise that with 900,000 children suffering in overcrowding in in England, TB and other serious illnesses are on the rise.

"For many years Shelter has highlighted the direct link between TB and children living in overcrowded and squalid conditions."

Shelter believes that the Right to Buy scheme, which it says has led to 1.7million council homes being sold off since its introduction, has made the problem worse.

A spokeswoman said: "The Right to Buy scheme has led to the best properties being sold off first, with sales disproportionately being made up of houses rather than flats which has led to less larger properties being available for families in overcrowding.

"It is very difficult for local authorities to respond to the needs of overcrowded families if they do not have the larger family-sized social rental homes to give them."

She added that Shelter believes it is up to central Government to commit to building more homes.

The TB findings were published a week after the Guardian revealed that 3,583 more people are on the council housing waiting list than in 2000.