'Strong signs' for housing market in the East

The housing market in the East is in overdrive, that's according to figures out today.

The House Price Index reveals homes are selling for nearly 3 per cent more than this time last year.

East Anglia saw the highest annual rise outside of London, with first time buyers accounting for nearly half of all purchases.

Jan Hÿtch, President of the National Association of Estate Agents, said: "We've never seen any stronger signs in the last few years than we've seen this year to indicate that there's a lot more confidence out there, a lot more activity, and people are really thinking, is this the time?

"Now is as good a prospect as we've had probably had in the last four or five years to actually go out there and find something."