HOUSE prices in York have soared by 131 per cent in the past five years, pushing the cost of the average property in the city to more than £182,000.

According to a survey by The Halifax, York and Chester saw the joint 11th biggest price increase among the UK's 66 cities, prompting fears that local first-time buyers are being priced out of the market.

Average house prices in Chester are even higher than in York, currently standing at £191,758.

Sue Sunderland, City of York Council's executive member for housing, said a lack of affordable private propertywas forcing people to go to the council for help.

She said: "York is a low-wage area, there's no doubt about it, but the house prices here are very high. This makes it difficult for people to get a foot on the property ladder.

"More and more people coming to us looking for houses to rent."

The Halifax survey, which used information from the Land Registry and excluded property costing more than £1 million, found that Exeter had the largest increase in house prices, at 156 per cent, with average property now costing £199,018.

Ripon saw the fourth largest increase of 147 per cent, with properties now costing £184,126 on average.

David Beattie, partner in Quantum estate agents in Walmgate, York, said the first-time buyer market had slowed slightly, but he expected it to be busy again in the New Year.

How York fared in the league table of big house price rises

THE BIggest price increases between September 1999 and September 2004 were as follows.

The figures show the five-year price rise, average price in September and per cent change.

1 Exeter, £77,703, £199,018, 156 per cent

2 Bath, £101,220, £257,223, 154 per cent

3 Hereford, £78,952, £196,588, 149 per cent

4 Ripon, £ 74,476, £184,126, 147 per cent

5 Plymouth, £59,070, £145,365, 146 per cent

6 Norwich, £71,134, £170,891, 140 per cent.

7 Newcastle-upon-Tyne, £65,035, £154,348, 137 per cent

8 Truro, £93,901, £221,986, 136 per cent

9 Lincoln, £61,102, £143,007, 134 per cent

10 Wells, £93,335, £217,265, 133 per cent

11 =York, £78,944, £182,676, 131 per cent

11 =Chester, £82,882, £191,758, 131 per cent

12 Brighton & Hove, £89,505, £205,799, 130 per cent

13 Ely, East Anglia, £86,399, £195,028, 126 per cent

14 Leicester, £66,876, £148,487, 122 per cent

Updated: 09:31 Saturday, November 27, 2004