Councils have been told to give priority to members of the Armed Forces and veterans who have poor mental health when allocating social housing.

The new measures will improve access to social housing for those suffering from conditions such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

They will also ensure former spouses or civil partners of serving personnel will be given extra support when applying for social housing.

Housing minister, Christopher Pincher, said: 'I want to ensure serving and former members of the Armed Forces who suffer from mental ill health are given the priority for social housing they deserve, together with appropriate care and support.

'There can be no better time than this Armed Forces Day, after such a challenging time, to celebrate the skill, tenacity and professionalism of our Armed Forces. Their contribution has been extraordinary and we are all grateful for their efforts.'