HOUSE prices in Inverclyde have soared by more than anywhere else in Scotland in the last year according to latest figures.

A new study from the Registers of Scotland (RoS) found that the average cost of a residential property between October and December was £132,000 - up by 13.1 per cent year on year.

During the same period in 2014, a typical Inverclyde home cost around £15,000 less, at £117,000.

The area had the biggest annual rise last year, beating second-place East Ayrshire where prices were up by 11.4 per cent.

The average cost in Scotland as a whole was up just 1.6 per cent to just under £168,000.

RoS also reported a sharp rise in the volume of residential property sales.

Across the country a total of 28,779 homes were bought between October and December - up 14.5 per cent compared with the same period in 2014 - with 324 of those in Inverclyde where there was an annual difference of 14.1 per cent.

Western Isles recorded the biggest change in the volume of sales, up from 76 to 107 which represents a rise of over two-fifths.

Kenny Crawford, RoS’ commercial services director, said: "As well as a significant increase in the volume of sales this quarter, prices have reached their highest since RoS began compiling quarterly statistics in 2003.

"This increase is more modest, up 1.6 per cent to £167,734. Combined, this indicates a more robust and active property market."

Properties worth a combined total of just under £43 million were sold in Inverclyde during the three-month period up to the end of December.

In 2014, that figure was nearer £33m - a difference of almost £10m year on year or 29 per cent.

Flats were the most popular type of property with 150 sold during the final quarter of last year followed by 65 terraced homes, 55 semi-detached properties and 54 detached premises.