HOUSE prices continued to fall in Worcester during March, though at a slower pace than in previous months, according to the latest housing market survey.

Figures from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors show that in contrast to the previous month, only half of the chartered surveyors in city reported a price fall last month - down 11 per cent to 52 per cent.

With an early Easter subduing the market, the number of houses sold in the region showed little change for a second consecutive month and new enquiries continued to decline, though at a slower pace than the previous two months.

But it is thought prices are about to become more bouyant than they have been for much of 2005.

"Sales of good quality property are being negotiated thick and fast by comparison with previous months and our recent residential property auction results echo this trend," said David Stuart-Smith, from estate agents Andrew Grant.

Nationally, March saw house prices fall further, at a slightly faster pace.