HOMEBUYERS - forget statistics, interest rates and demographics. Instead, look for a Pizza Express, day nurseries and a few alternative medical practitioners. These, according to the experts, will reveal whether an area is a good place to invest in a dream home, or not.

There was a time when the presence of a Pizza Express alone was enough to designate an area as on the rise'. However, according to Henry Pryor, founder of property website www.PrimeMove.com, homebuyers can no longer rely soley on the Pizza Express effect'.

He says: "The old pointer that a residential area is about to move up a gear were new coffee shops, but now they are as common as mobile phone outlets.

"Disregard both, and look for things that the middle class young professional craves: a vegetarian pizza, a glass of Sauvignon Blanc in a fashionable bar and an alternative medical practitioner."

Worcester already has its fair share of coffee houses and acupunture clinics but, on Thursday, July 26, the city's first Pizza Express will open at Cathedral Plaza.

So what does this mean for the city's growth?

Well, according to Henry, pizza is still a good sign. He says: "All towns which saw a Pizza Express opening in 2006 saw an additional rise in property prices of about four per cent, over and above the rate recorded in neighbouring areas."

Apparent indicators that an area has already arrived' include the presence of a Habitat, Waitrose and Savills estate agency.

Retailers suggesting an area is rising and has not yet peaked include Marks & Spencer, Waterstone's, Café Rouge and Jones the bootmaker - all of which already operate in Worcester.

However, areas viewed as potentially risky for investment are those including Woolworths, Carphone Warehouse - because most customers buy pay-as-you-go top-up cards - and McDonald's. Which, of course, can all also be seen on Worcester's streets. So what do our local estate agents think?

John Powell, branch manager at the Property Centre, has another theory about the opening of Worcester's first Pizza Express.

He says: "I think they are putting it there because of the Diglis Water development that is designed for trendy, young people.

"I think it's more relevant as an indicator for that, than for Worcester as a whole."

However, he said recent research carried out by his company's staff showed Worcester was seen generally as an area on the rise.

He added: "Worcester's location is key to why property prices have been continuing to rise and houses are continuing to sell.

"The vast majority of people who live in the city work elsewhere but choose to live here because it's so close to the motorways and the houses are relatively cheap compared to nearby areas."

Jan Jones, senior negotiatior at Charles and Griffiths, does not put much store by the Pizza Express effect either.

She says: "I've never had anybody ask me if we have a Pizza Express in the area. People are more interested in schools and leisure facilities.

"I think people love the city of Worcester as a city."

She also believes property prices have stayed consistent recently but said the prices of flats were dropping.

In recent years, Worcester has seen substantial developments of flats such as those at Diglis Water and at the Royal Worcester Porcelain factory.

According to Heather Hanks, of Bryant Homes, Diglis Water continues to be very successful.

She says: "The attraction down here is the water aspect. People are coming down here because of that.

"We've been on site about 14 months and we've sold very well. We sold 20 properties within a couple of weeks."

She said that the next phase of development was concentrated on larger apartments which "will again attract specific buyers".

FIVE OTHER SIGNS OF A CITY ON THE RISEOther signs to look for in high growth potential areas:1. More burglar alarms.

2. Approval for traffic wardens.

3. Thicker telephone directories (showing small business growth).

4. Longer school waiting lists.

5. Multi-cultural cuisine on the High Street.