British homeowners have reaped an estimated �1 trillion dividend through increased house prices, offsetting a �182bn loss in stock market investments, a report from IBM Business Consulting claims.

As a result, the average UK adult has seen their total net wealth increase from �64,000 in 2000 to �70,000 last year

However, the IBM report warns that wealth has become too tied up with the value of their homes, and that Britons had become "cash poor."

The report found that the proportion of wealth which could be described as "liquid" - in cash and shares - had fallen from 30% to 23% between 2000 and 2002.