Commenting, Ian Perry, RICS spokesperson said:  "For the fourth month in a row, the survey points towards prices rising, even though the general state of the economy would suggest that the housing market should not be faring as well as it is.

"Despite modest increases in the number of properties coming on to the market, it is clear that this is not significant enough to keep pace with the levels of demand.

"Buyer enquiries are continuing to grow and with the pace of job losses now easing, the risk is that the New Year could see a further wave of interest in the market."