House building has got off to its best start to the year since 2007, with most of the UK seeing strong growth, an industry body has reported.

The National House Building Council (NHBC) said that 40,281 new homes were registered between January and March, marking the highest total for the first three months of the year since 53,420 new registrations were recorded in early 2007.

The "encouraging" figures seen so far for 2015 also represent an 18% increase when compared with the first three months of 2014, the NHBC said.

But in London, new registrations were down by 29% year-on-year in the first three months of 2015.

In March alone, 17,210 new homes were registered across the country, marking an upswing of nearly one third (32%) compared with March 2014.

The NHBC's registration figures are taken from builders who are responsible for around 80% of homes constructed in the UK. Builders are required to register a house with the NHBC before starting work, which means its figures represent homes that are to be built in the months ahead.

NHBC chief executive Mike Quinton said: "Our figures show an encouraging start to 2015 with new housing registrations up 18% on the first quarter of last year. Housing growth levels remain strong across virtually every part of the UK.

"However, we have made clear that the UK is still building way below the volumes of homes that we need. NHBC looks forward to working with government to ensure that high quality new housing is a top priority."

Northern Ireland, the South East of England and Eastern England saw particularly strong growth in house building in the first three months of 2015 compared with early 2014.

Steve Catt, NHBC director, England, said the Eastern region has "notably picked up, with new home growth continuing apace in the Midlands, and, as we have regularly seen over recent years, within the South East".