RURAL families face higher costs for childcare than their urban counterparts, says a report.

The Countryside Living Index compares quality of life in rural vs. urban locations and includes an audit of child care services costs and availability.

It reveals that average prices for weekly care of an infant sits at 6.3% more in rural areas than in urban locations (£202 vs £190 per week).

The price differential is being put down to supply and demand, with rural families having few available nurseries within their local area.

Nearly a third of rural parents (31%) have just one nursery or crèche in their local area.

One quarter (25%) have none available within easy reach of their home, meaning that less than half (44%) have two or more to choose from.

As a result, a quarter of parents living in the countryside (24%) feel like they pay a premium on services because of a lack of choice.

Now in its third year, the Countryside Living Index is compiled by rural insurer NFU Mutual.

Rural Services Network chief executive Graham Biggs said: "The cost of living is rapidly becoming unaffordable for young families in the countryside.

"Rural residents already pay more council tax in return for fewer services than their urban counterparts due to much less government funding.

"People already have to travel further in the countryside to access vital services - including nurseries, schools and healthcare - than they do in our larger towns and cities.

"Coupled with a lack of affordable rural housing, this latest study is further evidence that suggests families and their children are being priced out of the countryside."

After recent changes to mortgage legislation, such costs will also have to be factored into mortgage applications, which could result in rural families facing tighter lending limits for home loans.

The issue is compounded for rural parents, as they're less likely to be able to rely on the children's grandparents to help with childcare because they live too far away.

One in four rural parents (24%) saying that they live too far from their parents for them to regularly help look after children.

Older people are also working for longer, which may be affecting their ability to look after grandchildren.

In previous research by the mutual, it was shown that 14% of over 65s were working beyond retirement and 39% of these were expecting to never actually retire.

NFU Mutual rural affairs specialist Tim Price said rural families often felt disadvantaged compared to their urban counterparts.

"The lack of affordable, accessible child care in the countryside combined with sparse employment opportunities is making it it's even harder for families to get by when they have young children."

"With new mortgage rules meaning such expenses need to be factored into mortgage applications, this is another economic issue that young families living in the countryside face."