HOUSE prices in Devizes have seen some of the biggest increases in the country since the start of 2018.

The market town appeared in the top ten of UK towns with the biggest house value increase in research carried out by Zoopla. The survey put Devizes in eight position with the average price of house now £328,744 which is a rise of £8,838 and equivalent to 2.76 per cent.

But the price increase is not good news for first time buyers and those trying to move up the property ladder as they will have to find more cash to buy an average home.

The average home in Britain has piled £44 per day onto its value since the start of 2018. In total, Britain's property market is now worth an estimated £8.3 trillion - having increased by £114 billion during the first quarter of this year.

Sidcup, in south-east London, saw the biggest boost with property prices rising by an average of by £11,761 (2.89 per cent).

Top 10 towns with the biggest increase in value. Figures show the March average, cash and percentage increase

1. Sidcup, South-east London.£418,490, £11,761, 2.89%

2. Heathfield, East Sussex, £448,727, £12,525, 2.87%

3. Wallingford, Oxfordshire, £502,017, £13,860, 2.84%

4. Glastonbury, Somerset, £314,476, £8,587, 2.81%

5. Darwen, Lancashire, £130,104, £3,552, 2.81%

6. Faversham, Kent, £337,389, £9,143, 2.79%

7. Batley, West Yorkshire, £143,947, £3,878, 2.77%

8. Devizes, Wiltshire, £328,744, £8,838, 2.76%

9. Kenilworth, Warwickshire, £408,085, £10,895, 2.74%

10. Hungerford, West Berkshire, £466,188, £12,135, 2.67%

Immingham in North East Lincolnshire was identified as the weakest performer in the first quarter of 2018 as values fell by 1.72 per cent (£2,097) on average.

The region with the strongest percentage growth in property values during the first quarter of 2018 was the North West of England, which saw average values rise by 1.85 per cent or £3,552.

The East Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber closely followed with equal growths of 1.58 per cent, equating to £3,357 and £2,750 respectively.

Wales ranked worse with a value increase of just 0.11 per cent or £203.

Top 10 regions with the biggest increase in value

Figures show the March average, cash and percentage increase

1. North West England, £195,949, £3,552, 1.85%

2. East Midlands, £215,914, £3,357, 1.58%

3. Yorkshire and the Humber, £177,103, £2,750, 1.58%

4. West Midlands, £227,363, £3,477, 1.55%

5. London, £673,013, £9,841, 1.48%

6. South East England, £410,452, £5,906, 1.46%

7. East of England, £360,695, £5,047, 1.42%

8. North East England, £188,580, £2,578, 1.39%

9. South West England, £306,009, £4,162, 1.38%

10. Scotland, £189,628, £331, 0.17%

11. Wales, £186,256, £203, 0.11%

Scotland followed, with modest growth of 0.17 per cent or £331, with the South West seeing the third slowest growth at 1.38 per cent or £4,162.

The growth in property values seen in early 2018 is in contrast to the same period in 2017, when the property market shrank by £29 billion, Zoopla said.

Lawrence Hall, a spokesman for Zoopla, said: "Home owners may be relieved to see that the market has had a more positive start to 2018 than 2017."

If you have been affected by the Devizes house price increase email jmoore3@gazetteandherald.co.uk