Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare also feature in the bottom 10 towns of the latest house price survey, which is compiled by Halifax.

The housing market has been enjoying a boom

According to the figures, an average house in Abertillery costs �37,872, compared to the country's most expensive town of Esher in Surrey, where the average is �416,328.

When the chart was first compiled in 1988, a house in Abertillery cost �18,010.

Local estate agent Neil Thompson, from Thompson, Dennes and Mapp, said he was not surprised by the town's continued presence at the base of the survey.

"House prices have always been cheap because of coal and steel unemployment," he said.

The prices are great value compared to anything on the M4 corridor, if people are prepared to drive an extra 20 minutes Neil Thompson, estate agent

"There is a core of unemployment in Abertillery which must be fairly unique - the jobs are not here locally.

"A standard three-bed terraced house will be in the high 30s - the same house would be in the high 50s in Newbridge," he added.

Rail boost

However, Mr Thompson said that the proposed �27.2m rail link between Ebbw Vale and Cardiff would have a significant impact on prices.

He added that interest in the area was already rising.

"As soon as the park and ride comes in, people will be commuting into Cardiff," he said.

Bottom 10 towns

Bootle, Merseyside Ashington, Northumberland Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taff Nelson, Lancashire Irvine, Ayrshire Stanley, County Durham Hebburn, Tyne-and-Wear Peterlee, County Durham Merthyr Tydfil, Merthyr Tydfil Abertillery, Blaenau Gwent

"There appears to be more awareness of the rail link out of the area than in it.

"At the moment, 60-70% of houses are sold to people from outside the area.

"The prices are great value compared to anything on the M4 corridor, if people are prepared to drive an extra 20 minutes.

Mr Thompson added that his firm's website was currently receiving a lot of hits from people in places such as Bristol.

Halifax said the cost of the average UK home had risen from just �29,993 in 1983 when it first started its house price index, to �121,742 at the end of last year.

"The housing market has been one of the UK's main success stories over the last 20 years," said Halifax chief economist Martin Ellis.

"A very significant increase in the number of people owning their own homes has been matched by substantial gains in house prices," he said.

In October 2002, Pontypridd, south Wales and Wrexham in north Wales, were listed in the top 10 property hotspots in the UK.