Action needs to be taken to improve life for people in rural communities, according to a report published yesterday.

More affordable housing, training opportunities for young people and financial support to provide services and help care for an ageing population are vital, the report by the Rural Services Network said.

The organisation, which consists of more than 80 of England's most rural local authorities, including Wealden and Chichester district councils, and 150 other groups, has called for action to support rural England.

Its report, Sustaining Rural Communities, followed a major consultation exercise in May last year about the challenges facing people in the countryside.

The report concludes that despite the fact many choose to live in the country, the quality of life often fails to live up to expectations.

It is calling for a commitment from Prime Minister Gordon Brown on affordable rural housing, a review of the planning system to increase the availability of land for homes, an assessment of the extra costs of providing services in rural areas and a Government commitment to sustaining balanced and vibrant rural communities.

The network's chief officer Graham Biggs said: "It is unsustainable and iniquitous for people living in rural areas to pay more in council tax while receiving less by way of services.

"We hope that our report will serve as a wake-up call that rural citizens are not prepared to be treated as second class."

The report says some of the poorest wards in the country are in rural areas, where earnings are much lower than the national average.

Tom Stuart, policy adviser at Wealden District Council, said 58.5 per cent of households have an average income of £27,500, which is well above the UK mean average of 27 per cent.

He said the biggest issue was affordable housing and, according to latest figures from 2006, the average home cost more than eight times the average income.

The network is appealing for skills training to be made accessible to young people and for rural broadband lines to be speeded up. Rural areas have a dramatically high ageing population and many migrant workers, according to the report, which brings with it increased demands for health and social care.

Pam Doodes, leader of Wealden District Council, said: "I don't think people in urban areas realise the problems that we face. Housing is a huge problem and is a high priority for us.

"There is also a shortage of transport services and difficulties with infrastructure.

"We are finding there is a hidden loneliness among rural people because of these problems. We are aware of all these issues but they cannot be addressed just by ourselves."

The report also urges the reversal of the rural post office closure programme and the retention of small village schools.