House prices increased more than the average for the south west in Swindon in August, new figures show.

The boost does not reverse the longer-term trend which has seen property prices in the area suffer a 1.2 per cent annual decline.

Buyers paid 17.1 per cent less than the average price in the region (£261,000) in August.

The average Swindon house price that month was £216,234, Land Registry figures show – a 0.9 per cent increase on July.

Over the month across the region, prices increased 0.7 per cent, and Swindon outperformed the 0.8 per cent rise for the UK as a whole.

Over the last year, the average sale price of property in Swindon remained level – putting the area 27th among the south west’s 36 local authorities for annual growth.

First-time buyers in Swindon spent an average of £185,800 on their property – £2,800 less than a year ago, and £43,400 more than in August 2014.

Former owner-occupiers paid £ 248,700 on average in August – 33.8 per cent more than first-time buyers.