Not enough to keep the key workers like me in London

Like many public-sector workers, teacher Emma Hunt, 26, is struggling to find an affordable home. She felt the Chancellor failed to do enough to give her the help she needs now.

Mr Brown announced he will consult on introducing real estate investment trusts which could attract private money into providing more rented and lowcost accommodation, particularly in the South-East.

But Ms Hunt, who earns £26,000 a year, feels it falls far short of what is needed to tackle the crisis in retaining low-paid key workers.

"I want to get on the housing ladder but I can't," she said. "Renting is always going to be dead money.

"Mr Brown's proposed solution is looking at the very long term and will not help me or people like me now.

"If I can't afford to live in London, then London will just have to lose another teacher."

Ms Hunt works at Belmont Park, a special school in Waltham Forest, Leyton. She is single and shares a four-bedroom house in Surrey Quays with friends, paying £400 a month.

She spends £70 per month on running her car, £200 per month on food, £50 on a share of bills - including £35 on council tax - and about £400 on socialising.

She said: "The cost of living in London is so high that I can't even save for a deposit at the moment - all my wages are gone by the end of each month."