House prices in Bolton increased by nearly three times the national average during 2021, a national bank has said.

The town has seen a 16.9 per cent increase on property prices, which equates to over £30,000, compared to the national average of 6.2 per cent.

Bolton is eighth on a list of areas which have been identified as the ‘UK’s top house price hotspots’ by Halifax, with Rochdale also placing on the list in third place.

In cash terms, the average house price in Bolton, rose by £30,818 to £212,671.

The list has been topped by Taunton in Somerset, with other towns including Newark, Bradford and Hamilton all making the list.

Russell Galley, managing director, Halifax, said: “Places like Bolton, Newark, Bradford and Hamilton – where there are a broad range of property types and settings – all offer significantly better value than their more metropolitan neighbours.

“Like Taunton, many of the areas that saw the biggest house price growth over the last year enjoy a combination of greater affordability and space compared to nearby cities.”

This news comes as Halifax also say that UK house prices rose at a faster rate in 2021 than in any calendar year since 2004, despite families struggling during the pandemic.

The banking group believes that buyers sought more space during lockdown and took advantage of low-cost borrowing and stamp duty holidays.

It is also anticipated that the dramatic increase in house prices will slow down due to increases in mortgage rates and the re-introduction of stamp duty.

Here are the top 20 hotspots with the highest growth in the average house price over the past year, according to Halifax, with the average house price now and the one-year change in cash and percentage terms:

1. Taunton, South West, £315,759, £56,546, 21.8%

2. Newark, East Midlands, £280,934, £46,732, 20.0%

3. Rochdale, North West, £206,098, £32,123, 18.5%

4. Chippenham, South West, £381,181, £58,322, 18.1%

5. Braintree, South East, £356,216, £54,236, 18.0%

6. Widnes, North West, £222,876, £33,628, 17.8%

7. Motherwell, Scotland, £177,118, £26,103, 17.3%

8. Bolton, North West, £212,671, £30,818, 16.9%

9. Hereford, West Midlands, £306,872, £44,336, 16.9%

10. Walsall, West Midlands, £230,972, £31,614, 15.9%

11. Bradford, Yorkshire and the Humber, £170,684, £23,323, 15.8%

12. Swansea, Wales, £211,590, £28,360, 15.5%

13. Kettering, East Midlands, £285,103, £36,783, 14.8%

14. Maidstone, South East, £370,964, £47,756, 14.8%

15. Newton Abbot, South West, £326,623, £42,014, 14.8%

16. Spalding, East Midlands, £264,668, £33,703, 14.6%

17. Wirral, North West, £276,042, £34,936, 14.5%

18. Scunthorpe, Yorkshire and the Humber, £176,186, £21,986, 14.3%

19. Doncaster, Yorkshire and the Humber, £201,824, £25,096, 14.2%

20. Hamilton, Scotland, £159,176, £19,225, 13.7%