Confidence in the market is rising

Property values have soared by 218% since 1993, compared with an average increase of 138% across the UK.

While prices have risen faster in Dorset than elsewhere, the highest average prices are to be found in Surrey.

An average property in the county costs �281,451, compared with the UK's cheapest county, West Glamorgan, where the average house costs �89,621.

'Year of the north'

The fastest price increases over the past decade have mostly come in counties in the south of England.

COUNTY HOUSE PRICES 1993-2003 BY % CHANGE 1, Dorset 218% 2, Cornwall 213% 3, County Armagh 187% 4, Greater London 180% 5, Devon 179% UK average 138% Source: Halifax

County Armagh in Northern Ireland is the only county outside the south of England to make it into the top 10 of price rises, with an increase of 187%.

But the regional balance shifts when looking at how prices have fared over the past 12 months.

The recent slowdown in price rises in London and the south of England means the north has been leading the way over the past year.

The highest price increase of 48% came in Dumfries & Galloway in Scotland, while Dyfed in Wales enjoyed a 44% rise.

AVERAGE COUNTY HOUSE PRICES 1, Surrey �281,451 2, Greater London �243,346 3, Berkshire �232,009 4, Oxfordshire �228,925 5, Hertfordshire �227,972 UK average �154,503 Source: Halifax

"There has been a huge variation in house price growth across the country over the past 10 years but there is little doubt that the majority of counties have done very well with around 80% seeing increases of over 100%," said Jane Pridgeon, managing director of Halifax Estate Agents.

"The past 12 months has definitely been 'the year of the north' as house prices in northern counties have generally outperformed the southern counties, slightly narrowing the traditional north/south divide."