House prices across the UK climbed by 8.5% during 2020 to reach a record average of £252,000.

New figures from the ONS showed the north-west England experiencing the highest growth – 11.2% – while prices in London rose just 3.5%.

The average property price in England in December was £269,000. In Wales prices grew 10.7% to an average of £184,000. Scotland had an 8.4% increase to an average of £163,000, while in Northern Ireland a house would typically set buyers back £148,000 – up 5.3% on the figure for December 2019.