House prices in Benfleet and Canvey are increasing ahead of anywhere else in south Essex, a survey has revealed.

Halifax Building Society has released a list of the average price of 100 per cent mortgages sold by the bank in 2005 and 2006.

The figures reveal the average price of a house mortgaged on Canvey by the company increased from £166,977 in 2005 to £191,734 last year, an increase of 15 per cent.

Rob Marsh, sales manager at Canvey-based estate agent Richard Poyntz, said: "Over the last year or year-and- a-half we have had stable prices on Canvey, but before that there was a steady rise because prices were quite low.

"At the moment, with an interest rate rise it will keep prices quite high.

"Conditions are quite good and the market seems to be keeping up. There are some areas which seem to go in tandem, but the market conditions shouldn't be any different between areas around here."

In Benfleet, prices increased by ten per cent to £236,458, but further east the prices seem more stable.

In Southend, prices fell from £189,833 in 2005 to £186,630, a two per cent drop, and Leigh experienced a one per cent drop, falling from £223,895 in 2005 to £221,272 last year.

But in Westcliff prices went up - by five per cent - from £158,728 to £166,909.

In Basildon prices rose four per cent from £158,809 to £165,841.

However, Leigh-based estate agent Richard Hair, president of the National Association of Estate Agents, said the figures were misleading, and house prices were rising in the area year on year.

Mr Hair said: "It is a complete anomaly house prices in Southend have risen by ten per cent in the last year.

"They haven't fallen for a long time.

"Their figures are based on average price of property on which they do a mortgage, they are not accurate locally, but they can give you a good indication nationally.

"House prices in Essex have all moved consistently over the last 12 months and the rise is, depending on location, between seven and ten per cent."