House prices can be up to 10 times the average local wage

From 1995, some homes have quadrupled in value, according to the figures from the Land Registry.

The small fishing town of Mevagissey in Cornwall is the hottest property spot in the country, the Land Registry says.

Other towns where houses have trebled include St Ives and Camelford in Cornwall, Ashburton in Devon and Portland in Dorset.

HOUSE PRICES - 1995 to 2003 Mevagissey, Cornwall: �65,000 to �240,000 Portland, Dorset: �36,500 to �128,200 St Ives, Cornwall: �58,400 to �201,600 Camelford, Cornwall: �50,300 to �171,600 Ashburton, Devon: �52,000 to �177,500 Figures: Land Registry

In 1995, the average house in Mevagissey was �65,000. In 2003, it had gone up to �240,000.

Fisherman Matthew Cave has lived in Mevagissey for all of his life, but said he could not afford to buy such over inflated prices.

He said: "I'm going to have to move out to St Austell, as there's absolutely no way I can afford to live here on what I earn."

One resident said: "It's really bad for the locals.

"I also think it's bad for the community because lots of properties are empty during the winter months because they are second homes."

In Ashburton in Devon, the Land Registry reported that prices had increased from �52,000 to �177,500 from 1995 to 2003.