HOUSE prices in all East Lancashire boroughs except one have seen double-digit increases in a 12-month period according to latest figures.

Estate agents have reported high demand with the temporary cut on stamp duty a big factor.

The average Blackburn with Darwen house price in January was £131,493, Land Registry figures show – a 6% increase on December.

However, year-on-year from January 2020 to 2021, average prices rose from £115,633 to £131,493 which is 13.7 per cent.

Over the last year, the average sale price of property in Blackburn with Darwen rose by £16,000 – putting the area fifth among the North West’s 43 local authorities for annual growth.

Elsewhere, Rossendale saw the next highest annual percentage price rise of 13.4 per cent from £141,569 to £160,495.

In Hyndburn the prices rose by 11.5 per cent from £99,357 to £110,784 while in Burnley prices increased by 11.3 per cent (£89,598 to £99,743).

Also seeing an 11 per cent increase from £212,379 to £235,680 was the Ribble Valley.

In Pendle prices also rise from £104,612 to £113,341, equating to 8.3 per cent.

The best annual growth in the region was in Liverpool, where property prices increased on average by 23.4%, to £156,000. At the other end of the scale, properties in Wyre gained 3.7% in value, giving an average price of £164,000.

Meanwhile, East Lancashire estate agents have reacted to the news saying that despite coronavirus pandemic and restrictions the industry is bucking the trend.

Julie Bracewell, sales manager at Entwistle Green says that the relaxing of stamp duty has had an impact on prices.

She said: "If we have been selling a house in Mill Hill for £50k previously they have now gone up to between £65k to £70k.

"The prices are rising on every property.

"It is a really vibrant market and our phones are off the hook every morning and even the properties on our online modern auction are going.

"A big reason is down to the stamp duty relief from the Government as people are able to pay the extra money for the houses."

Howard Baker of Falcon and Foxglove Estate Agents in Burnley said: "It is a great time to be sell your house. What is going to happen in the future is uncertain as prices may go up and down.

"People have been doing bits of DIY in the house and then sat looking at the four walls and they want to move."

Average house prices in England increased by 7.5% in the year to January 2021, down from 8.0% in December 2020.