New research shows that booming house prices in Cardiff and south east Wales are rapidly widening the gulf between the country's poorest and most affluent areas.

The survey for BBC Wales 'Week In Week Out' programme reveals that prices in parts of the Valleys have actually fallen in the last year - while in others they have risen by as much as 20%.

Cardiff Bay, the National Assembly and the Millennium Stadium have all helped create a boom in housing for Cardiff and the surrounding area.

Some luxury houses in the city are now selling for more than �1m.

One house in the Lisvane area, up for sale for �1.5m, has attracted buyers from as far afield as Hong Kong.

Cardiff estate agent Tony Filici said parts of Wales were catching up with London and the south east.

"Things have moved on over the years," he said.

"There are a number of wealthy people who have moved back to Cardiff and are looking for something special."

But while some areas enjoy huge rises - a housing price gulf is emerging across Wales with prices falling rapidly in other parts of the country.

One row of 14 houses in Blaenau Gwent were sold at an auction for �4,000 each, but because of the cost of improvements, the houses were repossessed from the new buyers.

They are now going under the hammer this week - though the price has been slashed by 50%.