The map shows UK ‘ghost towns’ where wealthy owners have bought the most second homes

Vacation home owners have been accused of overcharging locals who can’t buy or rent property in the area where they grew up, as prices skyrocket

The UK’s top 20 coastal areas turning into ghost towns have been revealed on a new map showing where most second homes are located.

Locals say wealthy property owners are pricing out people who can’t buy or rent property in the area where they grew up.

First place is Salcombe in Devon, followed by Falmouth in Cornwall in second and North Berwick in Scotland in third.

Cornwall’s St Ives, Newquay, Padstow and Bude are all included on the list compiled by Rightmove.

Soaring property prices in Cornwall have angered locals at their failure to get up the property ladders and some have even begun targeting seemingly vacant properties with graffiti.

On a wall in the village of St Agnes was the message: “Second home owners give back:

“Rent or sell your vacant homes to locals at a fair price.”

Jasmin Or, 24, grew up in the beautiful village of St Ives, where she claims everything has been turned into a holiday home, leaving renters a meager pick.

Cornwall Council said there was “an imbalance between supply and demand” that the county had never seen before, with landlords and companies buying up properties and converting them into summer cottages.

Jasmine says she is struggling to find a new apartment when her lease expires on May 10, saying: “There are no more apartments.”

The hotel worker has exhausted the rental agencies and free room sites and fears that she will sleep poorly in three weeks.

She told The Mirror: “I wonder if this place will seem so beautiful to me in three weeks’ time sleeping on a bench.

“Everything has now been converted into second homes and that is the problem.

“They are all Air BnBs and many locals have now been evicted from their homes to find space for the summer.”

St Ives MP Derek Thomas said in December around 100 families in parts of Cornwall were competing for every available three-bedroom house.

The housing problem has been accelerated during the pandemic as staycations have boomed.

In Whitby, Yorkshire, which is ninth on the list, voted in frustration to evict second home owners – as they are driving up house prices.

In a local referendum, the people of Whitby voted overwhelmingly to ban the sale of newly built homes and land to people who would not live there full time.

People living in the North Yorkshire town say wealthy southerners make it unaffordable and the sense of community is shaken.

Almost 20 percent of the apartments are second homes or holiday apartments – more than twice as many as 20 years ago.

House prices have risen to an average of £254,218 over the past year, with locals saying they are becoming overpriced.

The average salary in the city is £18,900.

This has resulted in young people growing up in Whitby being forced to move away, with house prices rising 20 per cent in just one year.

Monday’s vote, called after a town meeting last month, reflects growing anger at homes that sit vacant for much of the year.

However, Scarborough Council said the result was “no more and no less than an expression of the views of the constituents of the community who took part in the poll and will not be binding on any organisation”.

Whitby Community Network said the results “clearly demonstrate the strength of sentiment in the local community”.

A statement said: “We trust that our elected councilors will take note and take action.”