More than 100,000 jobs have been created due a surge in house building, according to new figures.

The Home Builders Federation (HBF) data said the industry is now supporting around 667,000 jobs.

The 'Building Communities, Boosting Employment' publication reveals house building in London now employs 100,000 people, while outside the capital an additional 5,418 people were recruited last year in Greater Manchester.

North Yorkshire experienced the biggest proportional growth with employment numbers doubling.

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The HBF said improvements to the planning systems and the Help to Buy Equity Loan scheme have helped house builders increase output by around a third in two years.

Government figures for 2014/15 show there were over 170,000 additions to England's housing stock, a rise of 25% compared to last year.

Overall, over 155,000 new builds were completed.

Stewart Baseley, Executive Chairman of the HBF, said: "The house building industry has increased its output at the steepest rate for decades. Delivering the high quality homes we desperately need is also providing a huge boost to economies across the country.

"The industry is recruiting and training tens of thousands of new people to ensure it can continue to deliver significant sustainable increases in supply and provide the high quality homes the country needs."

(LM/CD)