House prices in Scotland remain some of the lowest in the country, while increasing at one of the highest rates, according to new figures.

The quarterly house price index from Halifax suggests that the average house price in the country stands at £140,262 - joined only by Yorkshire and the Humber as a region with an average price below £150,000.

However, those looking to purchase a new home may be interested to read that prices are appreciating rapidly, with the annual increase currently standing at 15.9 per cent.

This places Scotland's prices as the third-fastest growing in the country, after Greater London and Northern Ireland.

In recent months, the quarterly Scottish house price index from the Bank of Scotland pegged year-on-year house price growth in the country at 22.4 per cent - higher than the 15.9 per cent now indicated by Halifax.