PROPERTY in North Yorkshire seems set to prove a sound investment, according to figures produced by a market magazine.

Your Mortgage commissioned independent analysts, Prophit, to research the history of house prices in the region through the Land Registry and a range of official Government data.

The conclusion, confirmed in a report published today, was that North Yorkshire property prices will increase by an average of 24.9 per cent during the next five years.

Hambleton is expected to fare better than most with a predicted rise of 25.4 per cent.

Not far behind are Harrogate and Richmondshire, with an average increase of 25.1 per cent.

Scarborough comes next with an estimated rise of 24.3 per cent with Ryedale bottom of the league table with a predicted increase of 22.8 per cent.

Your Mortgage editor-in-chief, Andrew Stuart, said: "The healthy increase in North Yorkshire house prices reflects the general economic picture.

"We are expecting neither a collapse in prices due to a recession, nor a continuation of the dramatic property price increases seen in some parts of the country over the last few years.''