property prices in Bolton have gone through the roof, with the average price of a home shattering the £100,000 barrier for the first time.

Recent figures reveal that the town is one of the top ten hot spots in the country, with prices rocketing by more than 25 per cent in the last year.

The national survey, conducted by online estate agent Rightmove, found that an average house cost £90,000 last April - the same property today would fetch £113,000. Prices rose by just over seven per cent compared to last month.

Nick O'Brien, manager of George Grundy estate agents, which covers Great Lever and Farnworth, said they had opened new offices because business had been so good.

Mr O'Brien said: "People are still prepared to borrow money and interest rates have gone down. We have found that house prices have risen across the market, from two bedroom terraced houses through to £180,000 semi-detached properties."

Neil Wilkinson, sales manager for Miller Metcalfe, which has offices in Bolton town centre, said: "The market continues to be busy, and there is no sign of a slow-down."

Mr O'Brien is predicting that the housing boom could make it too expensive for first-time buyers to buy a house in the town.

He said: "It's very difficult for first-time buyers to get on the property ladder in Bolton. If the current trend continues then it could force people looking to buy a house for the first time to rent instead of buying.

"And people looking to move from a two bedroom terrace to a semi-detached property may also have to stay put because of high house prices."

Mr Wilkinson said: "First-time buyers would traditionally go for a two bedroom terraced house, but these properties are being snapped up by people who want to rent them out."