UK house prices were 1.1% higher in December than a year earlier - the first annual rise since March 2008, according to the Halifax.

Prices rose by 1% in December compared with the previous month, marking the sixth consecutive monthly rise.

The Halifax, now part of Lloyds Banking Group, said the average home was now worth £169,042.

The figures show that prices have picked up steadily in recent months, having risen by 9.4% - or £14,552 - from the trough of April 2009. This followed a decline of 23% between August 2007 and April 2009

Source: BBC News