Seaham in County Durham is the best performing seaside town in Great Britain over the past three years with average house prices up by 172pc according to Halifax.

House prices in the former mining town on the North Sea coast have also recorded the largest rise across all post towns in England and Wales over the past three years. Halifax said that the average house price in the area is £117,266.

Out of 124 seaside towns surveyed, the next biggest increases are in Wales - Porthcawl (up 100% to £202,614) and Caernarfon (up 100% to £132, 812). Additionally, more than half of all the seaside towns surveyed (71 out of 124) house prices have increased by at least 50% in total over the past three years.

Most seaside towns recorded house price increases ahead of the 31% increase in house prices in general across Great Britain in the same period.

Sandbanks tops the expensive list
The most expensive seaside town is Sandbanks in Dorset with an average price of £506,282, making it one of the most expensive towns of any description in the UK.

The average house price in West Sussex, the most expensive seaside county, is £224,932 followed by Dorset (£222,853).

Wick for affordability
Wick in Northern Scotland is the least expensive seaside town in Great Britain with an average price of £64,612.

South Humberside is the least expensive seaside county in England with an average house price of £109,031.

Colin Kemp, Managing Director, Halifax Estate Agents, said: “More and more home buyers want to own a piece of the seaside and this has meant that seaside towns have seen some of the strongest house price rises in the country over the past three years. Price growth has been strongest in seaside towns in Northern England and Wales.

Firm demand for second homes has clearly been a factor pushing up prices near the sea but regeneration efforts in seaside towns, particularly in the South East and the North, has also been a positive for house prices in these areas.”