Housing prices in the west Highlands are so high that policemen are unable to afford accommodation - one has registered homeless, another lives in a van and a third has a houseboat as a home.

The Police Federation is furious that Northern Constabulary is doing nothing to resolve the crisis and has warned that the force, currently trying to recruit officers, may lose serving policemen and women.

The force's transfer policy has upset the rank and file, and some politicians. Officers have no option but to move when told to do so because they sign an agreement when they enlist. The policy has been criticised because it shows little flexibility when confronted with strong and compassionate arguments.

In Fort William, the situation is particularly bad for officers who earn around £21,000 a year.

PC Steven Mackenzie, a former soldier of seven years, registered himself homeless on April 25 and is relying on a relative for a bed. Constable Laurence Knighton splits his living arrangements between sleeping at the home of a friend in the Lochaber area, or living out of the back of his Transit van.

PC Willie McGilvray is currently living on a yacht off Fort William. He was posted away from his home in Skye, where he lived with his wife and family, but the cost of houses in the area means his family has remained on their croft in Skye.

Calum Steele, of the northern branch of the Scottish Police Federation, said: "I am aware of this matter and I will be making strong representations to the chief constable.

"There is something seriously wrong here if there are police officers struggling with accommodation. They have a hard enough job of it as it is. I am extremely disappointed that Northern Constabulary was aware of this situation and has done nothing about it.

"I will be urging the chief constable to consider giving these officers accommodation in the police hostel in Lochaber."

Danny Alexander, LibDem spokesman on work and pensions, said: "The Highland affordable housing crisis is undermining the vital public services that we rely on.

"If police officers can not afford to find a house in the communities they are serving then radical action is needed to address that. In the short term, I would hope Northern Constabulary would use its resources to help these people.

"The idea of a policeman making himself homeless in the place he is serving is outrageous."

The MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey added: "There should be a priority to find housing for police officers who are posted to areas. It is the same for nurses and fire officers."

None of the three police officers was prepared to comment, but a source said: "These guys are being treated dreadfully. At least one is thinking about quitting."

A Northern Constabulary spokesman said: "All officers within Northern Constabulary are paid in accordance with national regulations.

"Entitlement to free housing was removed nationally in 1994 and restricted the circumstances when the force can legally allow officers to occupy houses rent-free."