House prices in Britain soared ahead by 4.5 per cent during April as growth was driven by properties at the bottom end of the market, government figures showed today.
The rise, which was nearly double the strong 2.4 per cent recorded during the same month last year, pushed the average price of a house in Britain up to £168,600 sterling.
But the figures, which are not seasonally adjusted, follow a month in which government recorded price growth of just 0.2 per cent, well down on the 1.4 per cent recorded by Nationwide and 2.2 per cent jump seen by Halifax.
The latest figures showed annual house price inflation for the year to the end of April running at 10 per cent, up from 7.8 per cent the previous month.
The government said during the past year the market in the regions had been characterised by stronger price growth at the lower end of the price range.
It said during April the average cost of a flat in Britain rose by 7.2 per cent, while the value of a terraced house increased by 5.2 per cent.
At the same time the price of a detached house was only 3.1 per cent higher than it had been in March.