House prices in Epping Forest have on average risen £173,670 in the last decade.

Prices rose 58.34 per cent from £297,704 in October 2010 to £471,374 in October 2019, making it the most expensive district in Essex.

Harlow has seen the greatest rise in house prices in the last decade, at 69.55 per cent.

On average homes in Harlow have gone from costing £164,488 in 2010 to £278,889 now.

The cheapest area in the county is Colchester at £266,989.

The data, taken from the latest HM Land Registry shows nationally house prices have risen 39.8 per cent in the same time period.

Essex has outstripped the England performance by some margin, surging 53.5 per cent overall.

Russell Quirk, of Shenfield and Brentwood estate agent who compiled the data, concluded the rise was due to Essex improvement as an area to start a family.

He said: “Our county is an ultra- desirable place to live with great schools, lots of green open space, a fantastic road network and it’s most westerly parts can reach the City by fast-train in less than 25 minutes.

“We have the longest coastline in Britain and we’re on the doorstep of international airports and rail stations, the O2 and of course, numerous Premiership football clubs. No wonder prices here rise more than other areas”