House prices rising in the East..........
The rate of house price increase in the East of England has almost reached the level of the South East, latest figures show.
The Land Registry said the East saw an 8.8% rise in property prices in the year to the end of May, compared with a 9.1% rise in London and the South East.
The annual rate of increase across the whole of England slowed to 4.6% in May, the figures show
This meant the average home was valued at £179,696.
Guy Meacock, of buying agency Prime Purchase, said: "London has gone through a period of stratospheric growth, which was always going to be unsustainable at the same rate.
"The regional breakdown shows some areas are significantly outperforming others, but these markets are cyclical - that is a normal market with good and bad periods."
Across the whole of England and Wales, property prices were unchanged in May compared with April.
Yet the East of England and the North East of England saw prices increase by 1.6% over the same period, the fastest rise in England. In Wales, there was a fall of 1.7%.
Various surveys in recent weeks have predicted the summer will see a modest rise in housing market activity, slower than last year.