HOUSE prices in Colchester have soared by more than £19,000 in just six months.

New figures show prices have rocketed 7.6 per cent since January.

The average house price in Colchester is now £269,413, up from £250,325 at the turn of the year.

The figures are compiled by property website Zoopla and it gives Colcehster the second biggest increase in the UK.

Patrick Forrester, branch manager at haart, in Head Street, Colchester, said the increase in prices is down to a lack of properties going on the market and demand from commuters.

He said: “I am surprised it had gone up quite that much. “It will probably level off a little bit now. “It is a very, very good market for sellers–it is the best time for sellers as there are not enough houses to choose from.”

Mr Forrester said commuters looking for homes are switching from Chelmsford to Colchester because it is more affordable.

He said: “People can’t afford to pay the prices in Chelmsford – homes are 20 per cent more expensive across the board.”

Craig Ganderton, manager at Beresfords, in Colchester, said he thought the market has begun to level off.

He said: “Houses were coming on the market and people were queuing up to view them.

“We had two or three offers on some houses, but I would say we are not having quite as much at the moment.

“But we still have a big demand for the Lexden, Prettygate and Stanway areas because of the schools, shops and amenities.”

The Centre for Economics and Business Research said it expected house prices to rise by 4.7 per cent during 2015, a higher figure than previously predicted. In March, it forecast values would rise by just 1.5 per cent.

According to Zoopla, across Britain, the average home has increased its value by £6,974 between the start of the year and July.

This amounts to an average increase across the country of 2.7 per cent in the last six months.

The largest increase in house prices was recorded in Edinburugh were the average house price increased by 8.2 per cent in the last six months.

Third placed was Aberdeen where prices increased by 6.4 per cent.