House prices in Brighton and Hove have risen by 21.4 per cent in the past year, according to latest Land Registry figures.

It means the average property in the county now costs £160,185, compared with £132,001 a year ago.

All regions of England and Wales saw double-digit price rises year-on-year, according to today's report by the Land Registry.

Across the South East prices rose by 13.9 per cent compared with the previous year to an average of £168,111.

In West Sussex average prices increased by 12.6 per cent while in East Sussex they soared by 17.5 per cent.

It is putting pressure on professions such as nurses, council workers, and public service workers who want to live and work in Sussex but cannot afford to.

In Brighton and Hove detached homes cost £288,995 compared with £213,612 last year. Semi-detached cost £184,178 compared with £151,553 and terraced cost £183,994 compared with £155,635. Flats or maisonettes cost £123,181 compared with £100,051.

All figures are based on the last quarter from April to June 2002, compared with April to June 2001.

Simon Francis, head of residential sales at the Hove office of Clifford Dann estate agents, said: "These figures for Brighton and Hove do not surprise me. You would think it is easy for a family to purchase a £300,000 house in the city, but it is not.

"There is very little out there and people who need to sell are asking ridiculous prices. With people coming down from London and interest rates low and the Stock Market falling, people are finding the best investment is in property.

"We keep on thinking the rise in prices in the city will end but there is no sign of that happening."

Andrew Novak of Bridges Residential in Western Road, Hove, said: "There is no sign of the price increases slowing down. We are selling properties for £600,000-plus in the city.

"At the beginning of the year it was the lower end of the market that was increasing fastest in value. Now the greatest price rises are in the upper end of the market."

In West Sussex average house prices have increased from £166,364, compared to £147,767 a year ago.

In East Sussex they rose from £122,096 to £143,445.

Nationally, the average price of a property is £133,247, up 13.5 per cent on a year ago.