HALF of the top 10 best towns and cities for first time house buyers are in East Lancashire, according to a study.

Pendle topped the list, followed by Burnley and Hyndburn, while Rossendale and Blackburn with Darwen were named in eight and 10th places respectively nationally.

Burnley was also found to be the area with the lowest average first time buyer house price at £71,698.69.

Furniture Choice ranked areas based on average house prices for first time buyers, average salary, unemployment rate and difference in cost between first and subsequent properties.

Tom Obbard at Furniture Choice said: “Affordability is a big factor when it comes to buying your first home, but it isn’t the only thing to consider.

"Our research shows that prospective homeowners also look at factors such as the job market, and whether they will stay in one area in the future."