GROWING signs of green shoots in the Oxfordshire housing market have been backed up by the latest official Government figures.

Statistics released by the Land Registry yesterday showed the average price of a property in the county was £212,872, down 0.7 per cent on April.

But that is the lowest rate of decline this year and far lower than November and December last year when prices were dropping by 2.5 per cent a month.

Huw Warren, associate director of Oxford-based Savills estate agents, said: “We are very busy and enjoying a successful period.

“In fact, I don’t think there has been a drop in house prices this year.

“Confidence is recovering and people are buying.

“Both sellers and buyers are being realistic about prices and that is why deals are being struck.”

Mark Charter, head of the Summertown office of Carter Jonas, added: “I would expect to see the rate of decline improve further in June.

But he added: “It is impossible to predict what will happen in the autumn as there is still bad news out there.”