HOUSES in South Lakeland are being snapped up as soon as they go onto the market despite the rapidly-rising property prices in the area.

In line with national trends, prices have soared in recent months, with an average two-bedroom terrace in Kendal that would have cost around £50,000 in 1992 now costing between £ 65-75,000, and a two-bedroom cottage in Windemere or Ambleside, increasing in price from £60,000 to £110,00 in the last decade.

There have been similar year-on-year price hikes for both semi-detached and detached properties.

But while estate agents in the area report house-buyers houses being sold almost immediately, first-time buyers are struggling to get on the housing ladder.

See the Citizen online Wednesday for the full story.