THE price of property in two univeristy cities has more than doubled in the past five years as parents look for places for their children to live, according to a report.

Following research by Halifax Estate Agents, figures have revealed that house prices in ten out of the 13 top university towns outside London, including Durham and York, have risen by more than the national average.

The biggest increase in prices was seen in Bath, where the cost of the average home soared by 156 per cent, to £258,379, in the past five years.

In York, there has been a rise of 130 per cent, while in Durham prices have risen by 103 per cent.

Jane Pridgeon, managing director at Halifax Estate Agents, said: "Feedback from our agents in university towns and cities shows that potential student properties are in high demand, particularly among parents looking for a long-term investment, while at the same time providing a home for their children.''

The news came as no surprise to Durham MP Gerry Steinberg, who has campaigned for the city's university to provide more in-house student accommodation.

He said: "For the past ten years, I have been urging the university to provide more of its own student accommodation, but until it decided this year to build a new college and extend the Ustinov site, it has failed to grasp the nettle.''

A spokesman for Durham University said that the city's housing market was complex and it was unfair to single out parents as a problem, as the majority of private student accommodation was owned by local landlords.

He said the city was a very attractive place to live and attracted people from all walks of life.