A Lancashire village has been identified as a good place to invest in property in a list by the Daily Mail.

The newspaper said: “The property spotlight is firmly fixed on villages right now, both as desirable locations to live and as possible investment hotspots.

“But with property prices in the most desirable locations already sky high, we launched a hunt for the hidden gem villages where prices are currently low - but are tipped to be the next hotspot.

“Property experts and estate agents across the country helped us pick Britain’s top 18 villages to invest in, where house prices are set to continue to rise.

“Their investment potential is great, not only because they are seen as family-friendly retreats which buyers gravitate towards when leaving cities, but because - in some cases at least - they are likely to see sizeable expansion if the government’s house building programme succeeds.”

Downholland in West Lancashire features in the list and is ideal for those trying to achieve “village life”.

What did the Daily Mail say about Downholland?

The Daily Mail said: “Commutable from Liverpool, Preston and Bolton, Downholland has the pretty Liverpool and Leeds canals running through it.

“This is village life in its rawest sense - volunteers undertake most of the work looking after public spaces, including preparing for a new village sculpture in the Jubilee Park.”

The average price of a property in Downholland is £259,000, according to the research.

Best UK villages to invest in

Here is the full list of the best UK villages to invest in, according to the Daily Mail:

  • Abbotsbury, Dorset
  • Alnmouth, Northumberland
  • Appledore, Kent
  • Belford, Northumberland
  • Downholland, West Lancashire
  • Laugharne, Carmarthenshire
  • Lavenham, Suffolk
  • Melrose, Roxburghshire
  • Ogbourne St George, Wiltshire
  • Old Alresford, Hampshire
  • Rufforth, North Yorkshire
  • Sadberge, County Durham
  • Sampford Courtenay, West Devon
  • St Dogmaels, Pembrokeshire
  • St Mabyn, Cornwall
  • Wicken, Northamptonshire
  • Woolpit, Suffolk
  • Thorverton, Devon

You can find out more about each village via the Daily Mail website.