Some 20 university towns across the UK have noted a 20 per cent or more increase in house prices over the past 12 months, close to double the nationwide increse of 11 per cent, according to new data from Halifax Estate Agents.

Four of the ten best performing university towns and cities over the last three years are Scottish; house prices in Paisley were up 51 per cent and Glasgow experienced a 40 per cent rise.

Aberdeen saw a 75 per cent rise and Dundee had a 64 per cent increase, two of seven UK university towns that have seen a minimum of 50 per cent rise in average house prices.

Managing Director of Halifax Estate Agents Colin Kemp stated: "University towns are popular choices for home movers because they usually have a wide range of local facilities, while investors have been attracted by the steady increase in university populations."

Halifax Estate Agents is part of the HBOS group, which provides banking, insurance and investment services across the globe.