MEMBERS of a racial equality group say they agree with the findings of a recent housing survey in north Kent.

Presentation, the UK's largest black-led housing association, found 40 per cent of Pakistani and Bangladeshi families living in the area were living in poor and overcrowded conditions.

The survey involved interviewing 800 households in the area.

Of these, 109 were Pakistani or Bangladeshi.

The association's findings showed while Bangladeshi and Pakistani housing was of poor quality, the housing belonging to Indian, black and white households was much better.

Gurvinder Sandher, of north Kent's Racial Equality Council, said: “We agree with the findings of the report.

“We further hope these findings will help local authorities and developers when they are planning housing in the coming years.”

He explained the difference between the housing of the Indian community and of the Pakistani community was mainly because the Sikhs have been in the area longer and are, as a result, more well-established.

Mr Sandher added: “Sikhs moved to north Kent in the 50s and 60s.

“On the other hand, the majority of Bangladeshi and Pakistani families now living in the region have only arrived in the last decade.”