More than half a million people over 55 are trapped in large houses because of a shortage of bungalows, it has been reported.

The Daily Mail says that one in six homes built in the 1980s were bungalows but that figure has now dropped to less than one in 60.

According to campaign group, the Homeowners Alliance, the fact that older homeowners are unable to move has led to a shortage of suitable houses for younger families looking for more space.

It says there are 11.4million people aged 55 and over in Britain, many of whom are keen to downsize and sell off the family home after their children have moved out.

It also means they are able to improve their lifestyle in retirement by freeing up cash.

The report says about one in five homeowners have considered moving over the past two years but did not. Three in ten chose not to because of the stress, while 23 per cent said they did not want to move away from neighbours.

But 23 per cent - more than 500,000 - said a lack of suitable housing, such as bungalows without the problem of stairs, was their main reason for not moving.

The Mail reported that bungalows originated in Bengal, in eastern India in the late 17th century, where they were built to provide cheap accommodation for English sailors of the East India Company. Later they were used for the spacious homes of officials of the British Raj.

But bungalows are now in short supply in the UK with the number built each year falling from about 28,000 in 1985 to 2,500 last year, pushing up the price.

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