The price of an average house in the South East has risen more than 23 times during the past 30 years, according to a survey published today.

The study by the Halifax bank shows the price of a house in the region has risen from £6,000 in 1970 to £141,300 this year.

The survey breaks up the rate of increase into the terms of six different Prime Ministers - Edward Heath, Harold Wilson, Jim Callaghan, Margaret Thatcher, John Major and Tony Blair.

Homeowners in the South East, which includes Sussex, saw the greatest real rate of increase in prices under Edward Heath's Government.

Under his 1970-74 Tory administration they rose by about 14 per cent a year, or by 55 per cent for the whole period.

Prices fell under the Labour Government of 1974 to 1979 by 14 per cent, taking into account the effects of inflation.

The cost of a house in the South East rose under Margaret Thatcher's premiership by 59 per cent from 1979 to 1990, equivalent to an increase of about 5.3 per cent a year.

House prices fell by 16 per cent during John Major's 1990-97 term but have since risen by 14 per cent a year under the current Labour Government.

An average house in the South East is now worth £141,300 compared with £91,800 in 1997, when Tony Blair came to power.

Across the UK the cost of an average home has increased from £4,800 to £106,200 in the past 30 years.

Prices are now highest in London at £180,900 and lowest in Yorkshire and Humberside at £66,700.

Martin Ellis, group economist at The Halifax, said: "The evidence suggests that no one particular party has enjoyed a monopoly on house price increases.

"Homeowners have seen good rates of increase under both Labour and Tory governments, just as they have seen house prices fall under both governments.

"What is clear, however, is that home ownership has been a tremendous success over the past few decades.

"The majority of people in the UK still want a home of their own."