Private homeowners sitting on empty properties could be targeted to help ease a housing crisis.

West Oxfordshire District Council is considering taking action - including compulsory purchase powers because of the shortage of rented social housing.

The latest information reveals that there are as many as 372 private homes in the district which nobody has been living in for more than six months.

The houses, which are spread across the district, may be second or weekenders' homes, while others are believed to be falling into disrepair. "Empty homes represent a significant wasted asset, both for the owner and the local communities," said Paul Lankester and John Burch, the directors of environmental services and housing in a report calling for a new strategy on empty homes.

The council is struggling to provide rented housing for the 1,340 people now on its waiting list an increase of 68 over the previous month.

It still owns 3,684 council houses, but the stock is diminishing because of tenants' right to buy.