Glasgow was the biggest market, Registers of Scotland found

The figures, from the Registers of Scotland, represented an increase of 8% over the same quarter last year.

The highest average price was in the Lothian region at �160,110, an increase of 0.4% since the last quarter.

However, Lloyds TSB figures showed average house prices in Scotland rose by 4% since the last quarter.

The Registers of Scotland data - which tracks activity in seven broad geographic areas - found that the highest year-on-year increase, at 12.5%, was in the south west Scotland area.

The average house sold for �109,407, the research found.

AVERAGE PRICES BY REGION Central: �114,040 Grampian: �117,548 Highlands, Islands: �118,912 Lothian: �160,110 Borders: �130,622 South West: �109,407 Glasgow: �117,600 Unallocated: �160,978* Source: Registers of Scotland

The Glasgow area remained the biggest market with sales of almost �1.3bn between January and March, an increase of almost 26.7% since the same period last year.

Sales for the whole of Scotland amounted to �4bn.

The Lloyds TSB Scotland House Price Monitor revealed average prices have risen for 21 consecutive quarters.

Professor Donald MacRae, chief economist at Lloyds TSB, said: "Affordability of house purchase in Scotland has improved since the last quarter, while consumer confidence has increased.

"Economic growth in Scotland equalled that of the UK at the end of last year, while business surveys pointed to improved prospects for 2006 of growth nearer to 2%.

"The Scottish house price boom may have subsided, but robust price growth continues."

*Sales which could not be accurately placed.