HOUSE prices in Blackburn and Darwen are rising - but latest figures show they are lagging well behind the rest of Lancashire.

In the last three months of 1999, the average price of houses sold in the borough was £47,877, up by just over four per cent from the same period in 1998.

But in the rest of Lancashire, excluding Blackpool, prices rose by more than seven per cent during the same period to an average of £62,664.

The latest quarterly figures from the Land Registry show that the average price of terrace houses in Blackburn and Darwen rose to £32,079 compared with £30,583 in 1998, semi-detached from £50,529 to £53,897 and detached from £92,715 to £93,497.

In other parts of Lancashire, average terrace prices went up from £36,682 to £40,417, semi-detached from £54,722 to £59,109 and detached from £101,339 and £107,249.

House prices in Blackburn and Darwen are again listed as the second lowest in England - only higher than Stoke.

National average house prices increased by 15.2 per cent to £96,687.

Across the North West average prices rose by 6.55 per cent to £64,152.

Quarterly figures for house prices in Blackburn and Darwen have only been available since the borough was granted unitary authority status.

Figures for other parts of East Lancashire are included with the ones for the rest of Lancashire.

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