According to completions, based on what people pay rather than what the house is on the market for, Newbury property prices rose 9.2% in the year to March.

However, the number of sales has dropped by half to a three-year low, with only 40 completing each month, compared to 80 this time last year.

The local market follows the national trend of a property slowdown which began last June, creating a backlog of houses on the market, creating a better market for buyers to make offers.

The average houseprice in Newbury is now £226,500, with prices in West Mills and Wash Common slightly higher at £232,000. Property experts maintain there will be no crash though, and regard the current slowdown as a market correction.