Home sales in northern towns have been escalating significantly over the first six months of 2011, it has been found.

According to new research from Halifax, the region is home to the four areas that witnessed the largest rises in residential property purchases across this time.

These were Leigh, Rugeley, Houghton Le Spring and Bury, the latter of which experienced a 44 per cent jump and emerged as the number one dwelling sales hotspot in the nation.

Suren Thiru, housing economist at Halifax - which is a division of Bank of Scotland - said: "Many of the top performing towns are in the north, reflecting a reversal of 2010 when the housing market in southern England outperformed the north."

The industry expert noted a number of locations in England and Wales have seen marked rises in property sales of late, adding the housing market in these places have been helped by relatively favourable levels of affordability.