HOUSE price rises in Oxford continue to lag behind the national average, according to Internet property website, Hometrack.

There was no change in the average value of a property in October in the city with the figure remaining at £217,200.

But across the county, property values increased by 0.4 per cent to £225,700 - in line with the average percentage rise across the country.

Hometrack experts said average residential values are now 4.9 per cent higher than a year ago - the fastest year-on-year rate of growth for more than two years.

Director of research Richard Donnell said house prices look likely to end the year up by around 5 per cent with average growth in London likely to be closer to 12 per cent.