A strong end to CPBigwood’s auction year saw business well ahead of 2012.

The December event held at Aston Villa football ground totaled £7,580,700 of property sold, with an 84 per cent success rate and 100 per cent in the case of local authority lots.

It means the cumulative figure for 2013 came in at £51,082,200, with 604 lots offered and an aggregate success rate of 76.6 per cent.

The 2012 comparison was just under £47 million on 570 lots.

Jonathan Hackett, partner and head of auctions at CPBigwood, said: “More people are choosing the auction route – the size of our auctions and the numbers attending is massively bigger than it once was.

“There are always a few unsold lots but not many. So it offers sellers certainty as against going private and risking things falling through.

“Once again the room was absolutely rammed and the bidding was fast and furious.”

This time round the hottest lot was a former fire station in Barrett Street, Cape Hill, within the new Mitchells Brook residential development.

The guide price was £35,000 and it sold for an amazing £300,000.