Southend experienced the biggest house price rise of any town or city during 2012, say one of the UK's biggest mortgage lenders the Halifax. The Essex town saw prices rise by 15%, compared with a 1% average fall across the UK as a whole.

The Halifax said most towns with big house price increases were in the South East of England. By contrast, the biggest house price drops were in Craigavon in Northern Ireland and Wishaw in Scotland.

The Halifax's figures are based only on its own lending.

Top three risers and fallers Southend: up 14.8% Basingstoke: up 14.7% Rochester: up 13.3% Craigavon: down 18.4% Wishaw: down 12.5% Chorley: down 9.4% Source: Halifax: 2011-2012

The most complete record of property prices, compiled by the Land Registry for England & Wales, shows that prices in Southend rose by only 2.4% in the year to October.

Prices rose by 7% in London, and outside the capital the biggest increase was recorded in Brighton and Hove, at 4.7% in the past year, the Land Registry said.