Rural towns around Bradford have proved the district's housing hotspots over the past 20 years, a new survey revealed today.

Prices in Skipton have soared by 186 per cent, they are up 175 per cent in Otley and have risen 174 per cent in Pudsey.

In Bradford prices are up 117 per cent compared to a national rise of 306 per cent, with London the highest at 456 per cent.

In Leeds the rise was 177 per cent and in York it was 173 per cent.

Earlier this week the Telegraph & Argus highlighted two new properties in Ilkley, both with price tags of more than £1 million.

But one expert predicts the city will become more popular over the next 20 years because people are getting fed up of all the travelling.

David James, of estate agents Paul Withey in Bradford, says that trend is already starting with a mini-boom in Bierley.

"Bierley right now is very unusual. New housing there is moving faster than anywhere else in Bradford we find," he said.

"It is close to the motorway and the area has been improved a lot. You get a lot of buyers from Leeds who cannot afford prices there.

"My prediction is that people will look to be more central in the next 20 years.

"They are buying houses further out at the moment but ending up spending more time in their cars."

His company has terraced back-to-back houses for as little as £21,950 and a £250,000 home in Allerton.

However, David Waddington, of Crosby Homes, which has the two Ilkley mansions on the market, says the country will always win out for families.

"The city is all very well but people will always like to head home to a retreat and want to live in villages where they have horse riding, fishing and walking facilities on the doorstep," he said.

More than 80 people in the past weeks have viewed the two luxury homes, he added.

The Halifax survey shows how prices have risen across the country. The single most expensive area was Esher in Surrey, with an average house price of £416,328, and the cheapest was Abertillery in Wales at £37,872.

The survey also found that there are 4.5 million more home owners than 20 years ago - 17.1 million compared to 12.6 million.

A look back to the T&A's property pages in January, 1983 graphically shows the effects of two decades of house price inflation. In Frizinghall a "superior" four bedroom detached in elevated position then cost £35,000. Now its value would be about £130,000, according to Mr James.

In Allerton a "well-appointed" three bedroom semi-detached was on the market for £13,500 compared to today's valuation of £75,000.

A modern, four bedroom detached with double garage and generous gardens in Baildon then cost £48,500. Now it is valued at about £200,000. And in Pudsey a mature, two-bedroom semi-detached was being sold for £18,500. Now its value has rocketed to £90,000.

Price rises in the district...

Bradford: £20,689 in 1983, now worth £60,002, a rise of 117 per cent.

Cleckheaton: £32,700 to £89,600, rise 117 per cent.

Keighley: £38,317 to £84,965, rise 122 per cent.

Bingley: £49,432 to £113,313, rise 129 per cent.

Shipley: £38,466 to £96,386, rise 151 per cent.

Ilkley: £70,475 to £191,813, rise 172 per cent.

Pudsey: £37,109 to £101,612, rise 174 per cent.

Otley: £50,416 to £138,420, rise 175 per cent.

Skipton: £50,328 to £144,105, rise 186 per cent.