House prices in Whitstable soared by nearly two and a half times the average across the South East.

Property values in the seaside town jumped by more than 22% in April, according to the Office for National Statistics.

That compared with 8.9% in the South East.

Law firm Furley Page partner Myfanwy McDonagh said: “Whitstable has always been popular for property hunters but, in the past few months, we’ve noticed a marked increase in the number of homes being bought and sold.”

With more business coming from Whitstable, Furley Page has added legal executive Deborah Trott to its residential property team in the town, moving from its Chatham office.

She has been helping clients buy and sell homes for 10 years, specialising in the sale and purchase of freehold and leasehold property, as well as new-build sales and purchases, and assisting clients with remortgages.