The number of company directors moving to Uckfield has sparked a surge in house prices, according to a research group.

Property values in the town have risen by a third in the last three years, bringing the average cost of a home to £116,768.

Research group Experian says the number of company directors moving to the town has risen by 15.47 per cent since 1998, against a national average increase of eight per cent.

The company claims it can predict future boom areas by the number of company directors moving in.

Experian spokesman Bruno Rost said: "The analysis indicates that where there is a large increase in directors there is also upward pressure on house values over the medium term.

"Directors are people with an eye for an investment whether in the business they are running or trying to build up or the property they live in.

"They tend to take more calculated risks with their investments, which could mean moving into an area before it is about to become fashionable."

If the company's research is born out, house prices in Uckfield should continue to rocket as more wealthy trendsetters move in.

Mr Rost said: "Uckfield is up and coming. The rail links are to be improved significantly so with efficient transport it will be less than an hour from London.

"The whole area will start to be more accessible. People are looking to the future when they invest in a home there."

Wendy Oldfield, of Uckfield-based estate agent Cubitt & West, said: "We have been having a lot of calls from people in different parts of the country asking about houses in Uckfield. They tell us they want to come to this area because it's the place to be.

"It's a little bit cheaper than Brighton and you can buy a bigger house. Uckfield is getting a lot busier. We've got some good shops here now and I think the town is getting bigger and better."