House prices in rural Sussex have begun rising faster than the cost of city homes, new figures have revealed.

Property prices in East Sussex surged by 14 per cent in the first three months this year, according to the Land Registry.

The rise in prices across Brighton and Hove during the past decade slowed to four per cent.

But detached and terraced homes in the city still cost £100,000 more than the average for England and Wales.

The average price rise in West Sussex was slightly lower than the 14 per cent increase for England and Wales.

But the number of larger properties sold rose by more than 25 per cent.

The total number of properties changing hands in the county increased by 1,000.

During the past ten years, Brighton and Hove has experienced the highest property value increases in the country with homes gaining by more than 200 per cent.

But the number of flats sold to first-time buyers in the centre of Brighton and Hove is on the decline for the first time in recent years.

News of the apparent slowdown has not surprised estate agents. Chris Oakley, of Oakley Residential and vice-president of the Brighton and Hove Estate Agents Association, said: "We are going back to a more stable level of pricing, which will make estate agents like myself work harder."

Prices of detached properties in Brighton and Hove rose from £323,959 to £342,237 in the first three months of this year, compared to the same period in 2003.

The price of semi-detached properties increased from £204,370 to £219,454, terraced from £211,867 to £223,948 and flats and maisonettes rose from £137,290 to £146,491.

In East Sussex, rises kept pace with the 14 per cent national average.

The price of detached homes rose from £256,985 to £292,722, semi-detached from £167,649 to £177,318, and flats and maisonettes from £94,799 to £111,461.

In West Sussex, prices of detached houses rose from £305,002 to £328,838, semi-detached from £182,239 to £199,073, terraced from £152,578 to £163,494 and flats and maisonettes from £116,416 to £129,067.

The average price rise in West Sussex was 9.5 per cent.

Wednesday May 12, 2004