PROPERTY sales grew at their fastest annual rate in ten years, a new report has said.

A survey shows the North enjoyed a year-on-year increase in the six months to September 30, with the West Midlands, Wales and London also reporting strong results.

The report, from Lloyds Bank, said 98 per cent of towns in England and Wales saw an annual sales lift, compared to a year ago when just 26 per cent enjoyed a rise.

The North-East saw a 19 per cent rise in activity.

The findings, based on Land Registry figures, said there were 396,756 house sales in the six months to September, though that was still 41 per cent below the 2006 pre-recession market peak of 673,699 sales.

Marc Page, Lloyds Banks' mortgages director, said: “Low interest rates, improvements in consumer confidence and Government schemes, such as Help to Buy, all appear to have contributed to the rise in home sales.”