Rental prices in Swindon has increased by 10 per cent in the last year, new figures reveal.

Provisional figures from the Office for National Statistics show the average private rent in Swindon reached £982 per month in the year to August – up 10% from £894 a year prior.

Monthly rental payments were also up by 27 per cent from an estimated £774 five years ago.

Campaign group Generation Rent said protections must be put in place to prevent rent costs rising above inflation and wage growth.

Valuation Office Agency rent officers collect prices from a variety of sources, including landlords and letting agents, to collect data on approximately 10 per cent of the market.

Across the South West, the average rent was £1,132, which has risen by 6 per cent from the year before.

Bristol had the highest rental cost in the region at £1,763 per month, while the lowest was in Torridge at £738.

Generation Rent said rent has risen at a faster rate than wage growth across the UK.

Ben Twomey, chief executive, explained: "This isn't news to renters, who have been feeling this squeeze for a very long time as our landlords snatch away more and more of our wages.

"The government’s Renters' Rights Bill, published last week, offers many positives for tenants, but the cost of renting crisis will rage on unless Westminster slams the brakes on these runaway rents.

"Alongside this, we desperately need more homes people can afford to live in, in the places people want to live, and we are pleased that the government have set out this long-term aim."

The figures also show the different costs for various homes in Swindon, from around £728 for a one-bed property to £1,511 for a home with four or more bedrooms in August.

Meanwhile, a detached house is now on average £1,369 to rent per month, with a semi-detached costing £1,052 per month, terraced houses in the region of £954 per month and flats at £811.

A Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: "Our landmark Renters' Rights Bill will introduce extra protections against unreasonable rent increases that stop landlords using large increases to force tenants out."

"We’ll also deliver 1.5 million new homes over the next five years, including the biggest increase in social and affordable housing in a generation.”