Bury is the country's leading property sales hotspot, according to new research by building society Halifax.

Sales of homes in the town have risen by 44 per cent during the first half of 2011compared with 2010, more than in any other town in England and Wales.

This increase has been driven by a marked rise in the purchases of flats and terraced homes, with these smaller property types accounting for 77 per cent of the overall jump.

Three other northern towns - Leigh, Rugeley and Houghton-le-Spring - experienced the next highest increase, as the south lagged badly behind.

Nine of the 10 towns that saw the biggest declines in property sales are in southern England.

The Hertfordshire town of Hoddesdon saw the largest drop in sales of 39 per cent, followed by Buckingham with 34 per cent.

Suren Thiru, Halifax housing economist, said: "Many of the top performing towns are in the north, reflecting a reversal of 2010 when the housing market in southern England outperformed the north.

"The relatively favourable levels of affordability in many of the top performing northern towns have helped to support housing market activity in these locations, albeit from historically low levels," he added.

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