HOUSE prices in Blackburn and Darwen are the second cheapest in England, according to latest figures.

Only the Potteries town of Stoke-on-Trent has houses any cheaper.

The Land Registry says average prices of houses sold in Blackburn and Darwen in the three months to September was £47,213 compared with £45,873 in the same period last year - a rise of 2.3 per cent.

Terrace houses saw the largest rise, from £29,022 to £32,102 and detached homes moved up slightly from £96,459 to £96,591.

But the average price of semi-detached homes fell from £53,415 to £52,830.

The latest figures, based on sale prices, follow strong rises recorded in Blackburn with Darwen in the previous quarter.

Only Stoke has lower average house prices out of all the other unitary authorities or counties surveyed.

Across Lancashire as a whole, average prices rose from £60,503 to £62,479.

Detached homes rose from £101,859 to £106,338, semi-detached from £56,475 to £57,719 and terrace from £37,704 to £38,433.

Across the North West, average house prices increased from £61,599 to £65,992.

Across England and Wales the average cost of a house is now £97,616 compared with £86,936 last year.

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