It is "nonsense” for baby boomers to suggest millennials are unable to afford homes because they spend too much on "smashed avocado”, Sajid Javid has said, as he suggested next week's Budget will pledge new action to tackle the housing crisis.

The Communities Secretary hit out at home owners who have paid off their own mortgages and suggested that they should not be allowed to get in the way of the construction of homes for a younger generation "crying out for help with housing".

He said baby boomers "are living in a different world" when they suggest Britain doesn't need to build more homes.

Speaking in Bristol he said: "They aren't facing to the reality of modern day life and they have no understanding of the modern market."

Mr Javid also said next week's Budget will show "just how seriously we are willing to fight to get Britain building", just 24 hours after Philip Hammond warned there was no "silver bullet" to fix the crisis.

The Secretary of State hit out at baby boomers after an Australian millionaire suggested young people would be able to get a foot on the property ladder if they stopped eating avocado on toast.