Local House Prices Nose Dive

12.44.55pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 13th Feb 2006

The latest Halifax survey of house prices shows that average house prices fell by 6% in the Twickenham area in 2005 but rose by 4% in London as a whole and remained unchanged across the UK. Over a five year period, however prices rose 41% as against 56% in London and 88% across the UK.

Vincent Cable, MP, said that "property prices are still well above the national average and Twickenham, Teddington, St Margaret's, Hampton and Whitton are still very desirable places to live. But what has happened, I think, is that many professional people - teachers, scientific researchers, police officers, middle managers, IT staff, social workers and others - have been priced out of the market and this has affected demand".