house prices in the North-west are set to continue rising, according to a new report.

But Experian Business Strategies, which produced the report, thinks prices will slow and even fall in southern areas.

Research director Neil Blake said: "At the UK level, house price inflation will slow dramatically this year and we will see subdued growth, more or less in line with inflation, for a number of years after that."

Little growth was expected over the next three years in the south, but he thought there was still scope for another year of significant increases in some regions -- including the North-west.

But Mr Blake predicted a marked downturn for 2004.