Properties in Brighton have experienced the largest gain in prices per square metre (psm) over the past ten years, figures show.

The city now has an average price of £2,559 psm, an increase of 280 per cent since 1996, according to Halifax Estate Agents.

Truro in Cornwall saw the second largest gain of 270 per cent since 1996, followed by London at 254 per cent.

London, not surprisingly, is the UK's most expensive city for property, with an average price of £3,883 psm in 2006, a 14 per cent increase on the previous year's figure of £3,395.

Ten years ago, St Albans in Hertfordshire was the most expensive city at £1,436 psm, compared with £1,097 for London.

St Albans is now ranked third, with an average price of £2,903, just behind second-placed Oxford at £3,010.

Armagh was the city in Northern Ireland with the largest increase over the past 10 years of 231 per cent, and is the sixth-largest riser in the UK as a whole.

Belfast is ranked seventh in terms of growth since 1996 at 229 per cent.

Edinburgh is the most expensive city in Scotland, with an average price of £2,218 psm, while Cardiff is the most expensive Welsh city (£1,777) and Belfast the most expensive in Northern Ireland (£1,720).

Martin Ellis, chief economist at Halifax, said: "Over the past ten years Brighton has seen the fastest increase in price per square metre, with a gain of 280 per cent.

"Properties in the city now cost £2,559 per square metre, compared with £673 ten years ago.

"London is the most expensive city in the UK, with an average price of £3,883 per square metre, although ten years ago the capital was ranked second behind St Albans.

"Armagh in Northern Ireland is among the cities with the lowest price per square metre, but it has experienced the sixth-largest increase over the past ten years."