A shortage of nurses, teachers and other key workers may be eased by a new housing scheme.

The first sheltered housing project of its kind in Worthing will include affordable accommodation for workers.

Development company McCarthy and Stone is due to build nine homes alongside 60 for elderly people on the site of former council offices in Mill Road. There will also be a home for a warden.

The move was welcomed by Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust, which is struggling to recruit nurses because of high house prices.

Trust spokeswoman Pam Lelliott said: "The trust welcomes any facilities which will make it easier to recruit professional staff.

"It is the dilemma of the South-East that we need to recruit but the cost of living is high.

"The bottom line is that people still have to live down here.

"The Government has agreed to give extra money to professional staff in the South-East in recognition of this."

Worthing Borough Council development control manager James Appleton said: "The key worker units are the first of their kind in Worthing.

"We have been aware for a while that professionals who want to come to the South-East cannot compete in the open housing market.

"The Government has been encouraging us to look at cheap housing provision for all key workers including teachers, police and firemen, but particularly nurses.

"We thought it would be particularly beneficial to have such people living near the elderly in social housing units.

"The development company will liaise with local schools and health authorities and create a register of people wanting such accommodation.

"This is just one of the schemes we will be looking at to address the shortage of affordable housing for these workers."

The former council office complex was sold by West Sussex County Council following the opening of Centenary House, Durrington.

The buildings have already been demolished and work on the new development is due to begin in the next few days.

The project follows an announcement of plans for 220 social housing homes in an 800-home development on open land in West Durrington.

No key worker units are planned but if the application is given the council's go-ahead it could transform the area and bring in business.