House prices in Bradford will slow down but not crash next year, experts predicted today.

The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) believes there will be a controlled slowdown of the housing market in 2004 but says the crash predicted by many economists will not happen.

Peter Bolton King, chief executive of the NAEA, said: "The predicted disaster that some commentators were trumpeting for 2003 never happened and house prices in most areas of the country continued to rise.

"We anticipate that prices will end the year up by about ten per cent, although this figure is far too optimistic for London where house prices flattened."

Patrick McCutcheon, director of Ilkley-based estate agent Dacre, Son and Hartley, predicts a promising picture for Bradford homeowners over the next year.

He said: "I think we will continue to enjoy what is, relatively speaking, a good market place in the Bradford area and next year will be very much the same as this year."

This bright picture for homeowners was echoed by Bradford & Bingley Estate Agents. A spokesman said: "This year prices have gone up by about ten per cent in Bradford. All areas of Bradford are sought after. They are all hot spots and first-time buyer properties are selling overnight."

Bradford and Bingley predicts a continued steady price inflation in the housing market with rises of between five and seven per cent for the next 12 months across the UK.

The Crossflatts-based company warned that the market could be affected further by the continued threat of terrorism, rises in income tax and stamp duty.

Gary Verity, managing director of Bradford and Bingley estate agents said: "2003 was certainly a year of two halves. We witnessed a dampening down of the market in the first half due to the Iraq conflict. This was followed by a bounce back in transactions from May onwards.

"I think the strong activity we are currently experiencing will continue well into 2004.''