Annual house price inflation is back in double-digits, according to government figures. The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) said prices in April were 10.1% higher than a year ago.

That was the highest rate of inflation since October 2007, when prices were on a downward trend.

UK house prices rose by another 0.4% in April, putting the cost of the average UK property at £207,516.

Annual house prices rose in all UK countries except Northern Ireland in the year to April 2010, the DCLG said. Annual house price growth was 10.9% in England, 2.2% in Scotland and 11.3% in Wales.

But in Northern Ireland prices fell by 8.9% on average in the year to April. Separate figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) show that mortgage lending this year has been modest.