New research from Halifax Estate Agents has found that homeowners continue to pay a premium for living near the sea.

The data from Halifax Estate Agents revealed that between 1995 and 2005, seventeen of the twenty seaside locations with the highest property price rises were all in either the South East (10) or South West (7) - with the exceptions of Brancaster in East Anglia, and Llandudno and Colwyn Bay in Wales.

Falmouth saw the greatest increase in house prices over a ten year period (311.5%), well ahead of the UK average house price growth of 186%.

However, over the last twelve months the main house price increases were seen in the North of England.

Maryport in Cumbria has seen the highest property price rises with an increase of 42.0%. Four out of the top twenty seaside towns are in Cumbria ? Maryport (42.0%), Barrow in Furness (31.6%), Whitehaven (25.0%) and Workington (23.3%)

Sandbanks in Dorset is the most expensive seaside town where the average property now sells for £531,280 - over £200,000 more than the next most expensive ? Lymington in Hampshire.

Colin Kemp, Managing Director of Halifax Estate Agents, said: “Comparing property prices in seaside towns over the last decade with the past 12 months reveals an interesting picture. Over the ten year period, coastal properties in the south have been the strongest performing in terms of house price rises but in the last year, it has been locations in the north that have witnessed the biggest increases.

What is clear from the research is that homebuyers are still prepared to pay more in order to enjoy living by the sea.”