HOUSE prices on Exmoor have shot through the roof this year according to a survey released this week.

The second annual house price survey has revealed that an average house on Exmoor has increased 14 per cent to £146,822 compared to £128,881 last year.

The average price of smaller properties has risen sharply too, with a two-bedroom house increasing 32 per cent in value from £75,539 in 1998 to £100,016 in 1999.

The biggest hike in price is the average cost of a terraced property, from £65,700 12 months ago to £88,898, a 35 per cent increase.

The survey found the average price on Exmoor was 60 per cent higher than the regional average and 59 per cent above the UK average.

More than a third of people selling property used the Exmoor National Park as a selling point.

Jack Ellerby, principal planning officer at Exmoor National Park Authority, voiced concern at the buoyant market: "This survey confirms our fears. House prices are becoming more and more unaffordable to local working people.

"Other national parks, like the Peak District, restrict the occupancy of new properties to defined 'local needs only' when they grant planning permissions.

"The Local Plan which we have started to review could follow this approach to try to help provide some housing that Exmoor people can afford to buy."

The house prices were obtained from estate agents in and around Exmoor and from property sections of local newspapers.

Only 105 property details were used compared with last year's 187 because properties were selling quicker due to the high demand.