Ananova:

The price of properties in market towns is soaring as they are seen as increasingly desirable places to live, figures show.

Halifax, which analysed the price of property in 112 English market towns, said the cost of a home had at least doubled in all but four of the towns since 1995.

Two-thirds of market towns also had average house prices higher than the county average, while in the majority of towns property was also more expensive than the regional average.

The group said 10 market towns, which are defined as having a population of between 3,000 and 30,000, now had average house prices of more than £250,000.

Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire is the most expensive market town to live in, with property averaging £550,495.

It was followed by Midhurst in West Sussex at £279,840 and Ringwood in Hampshire at £279,266.

Thirty-six market towns also had prices of more than £200,000, the majority of which were in the south-east.

Midhurst has also seen the strongest price growth since 1995, with prices shooting ahead by 223%.

Bodmin in Cornwall is not far behind with prices soaring by 221% to an average of £155,478.

Overall 12 towns have seen prices rise by at least 200% since 1995, all but one of which were in the south-east or south-west.

Outside of the south the biggest price increase was seen in Bingham in Nottinghamshire, where prices rose by 194%, followed Lymm in Cheshire at 188%.