PROPERTIES in Evesham are in demand, according to research by a top building society.

They are selling twice as quickly as the national average - changing hands in just five weeks, compared to 11 - Bradford and Bingley has found.

First-time buyers are responsible for the fastest sales.

The building society's local area director, Peter Bolton King, said: "In the Evesham area, apart from the ongoing benefit of the mainline railway to Paddington on the doorstep, there is a further localised reason.

"Fastest sales are particularly noticeable in the first time buyer market.

"Evesham is proving particularly popular, as prices tend to be a little cheaper than in, for instance, the Stratford area.

"We have seen many instances of buyers looking for their first-time home realising they can obtain more for their money if they are prepared to move a few miles down the road."

The report said there was a shortage of properties coming on to the market.

As far as Evesham was concerned, Peter said: "Although there is movement in house prices, this is not driving up prices as quickly as we have seen in the past."