Soaring demand from young single women for houses and flats is helping to force up Sussex house prices.

One of the biggest gatherings of estate agents in Europe was told single women home buyers aged 25-35 now outnumbered single male buyers by almost two to one.

Estate agents heard single women were buying a high proportion of flats and houses in Brighton and Hove and elsewhere in Sussex, keeping prices high.

The conference was organised by the internet-based Home Sale Network, made up of independent estate agents across Britain.

Network director Richard Tucker said: "While we have seen a gradual trend over the years towards more single purchasers, our research shows a marked increase in women buying homes on their own.

"Two-thirds of single buyers are now women."

Mark Westcott, regional development manager for the network covering Sussex, said: "More women are buying properties on their own after relationships have gone wrong or following the death of a partner.

"We are adapting to this new market. There are a lot of single men in the Brighton area purchasing their own flats but the biggest recent change in the market has been the increase in the number of women wishing to become independent and owning their own homes."

The conference heard there had been an 11 per cent increase nationally in the number of single people buying property in the past year, with single women in the medium and high wage brackets leading the way.

Half the homes bought by single women cost less than £75,000, with most of the others in the £75,000 to £150,000 bracket.

Some agents reported half their initial inquiries were now coming from the internet.

More than 400 estate agents attended the one-day conference at the Hilton Metropole Hotel.