House sales have lifted to their strongest levels in six years as expectations that property prices are set to lift higher broaden out across the country, surveyors have reported. But there are also signs that the pace of strong house price growth seen in London could cool in the second half of the year, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors' (Rics) housing market report for April found.

Some 23 homes were sold per surveyor on average in the three months to April, marking the highest figure seen since February 2008.

Heading into the summer, an overall balance of 33% of surveyors expected to see house sales lifting further rather than falling , although Rics said the market "continues to be marred by weak supply and high demand".

The report said that house price expectations for the long-term remain broadly unchanged from March, with surveyors expecting average price growth of 6% a year for the next five years.