Average property prices in Falmouth rose by nearly �200,000

The report said that many homeowners are willing to "pay a premium" in order to be able to live near the sea.

It found that two-thirds of the 75 seaside towns surveyed had seen house prices rise faster than the UK's average of 186% over the past decade.

Of the top 20 percentage rises, 17 were in the South East and South West.

In Falmouth and Penzance, both in Cornwall, the average property price in 2005 was more than four times that of 1995.

Brancaster in Norfolk and Brighton in East Sussex both had increases of more than 280%.

UK seaside towns with greatest house price rises, 1995-2005 Falmouth, Cornwall - 311.5% Penzance, Cornwall - 302.2% Brancaster, Norfolk- 287% Brighton, East Sussex - 284% Mevagissey, Cornwall - 265.4% Hastings, East Sussex - 255.9% Bideford, Devon - 251.1% Whitstable, Kent - 250.3% Brixham, Devon - 246.1% Hythe, Kent - 242.5%

Coastal towns in Kent, Dorset and Hampshire, as well as Llandudno and Colwyn Bay in Wales, also figured in Halifax's top 20 of house price rises.

Property prices in nearly half of the 75 seaside towns surveyed at least trebled over the 10-year period.

Over the past 12 months, however, the rapid increases in prices have shifted to northern coastal towns.

A spokesman for Halifax said the change reflected a national trend of the North playing catch-up with the South over house prices.

The research also revealed Sandbanks in Dorset to be the most expensive seaside resort, with the average property selling for �531,280.