HOUSE prices increased by 5.1 per cent in the Wee County in May, the latest figures show.

The rise is contributing to a longer-term trend, which has seen property prices in the area grow by 17.4 per cent over the past year.

The average Clackmannanshire house price in May was £167,793, Land Registry figures show – a 5.1 per cent increase on April.

Over the last year, the average sale price of property in Clackmannanshire rose by £25,000 – putting the area sixth among Scotland’s 32 local authorities with price data for annual growth.

First-time buyers in Clackmannanshire spent an average of £129,000 on their property – £18,000 more than a year ago, and £39,000 more than in May 2017.

By comparison, former owner-occupiers paid £210,000 on average in May – 62.5 per cent more than first-time buyers.

Owners of terraced houses saw the biggest rise in property prices in Clackmannanshire in May with an increase of 5.8 per cent to £130,165 on average. Over the last year, prices rose by 16.8 per cent.

Detached properties saw an increase of 4.1 per cent, 21 per cent annually, to an average of £310,443.

Semi-detached properties were up 5.3 per cent and 17.9 per cent annually to a £173,558 average while prices for flats were up by 5.8 per cent, 13.7 per cent annually, to an £88,034 average.