There was a surprise rise in market activity during July

The housing market showed further signs of improvement last month, according to the MyMoney24 Property Index.

The index, produced in association with Agency Express, showed that sales increased by 5.2pc on February’s figures, while new For Sale listings were up 10.5pc.

However, despite the positive news, the figures were down on an annual basis, by 8pc and 7.8pc respectively.

Some of the most buoyant figures were in the north-east of England, with sales up a massive 80pc and new listings rising by more than 30pc.

“Our figures for March show a steady move in the right direction for both new listings and sold properties,” said Agency Express managing director Stephen Watson.

“The early mild weather and relatively low interest rates seem to have helped the housing market in most regions and it will be interesting to see if the trend continues at an accelerated pace as we enter into what is traditionally the busiest period for property activity.”

Agency Express provides a nationwide estate-agency board service, with the property index based on demand for Sold and For Sale boards.