House prices rose again in December, new figures from Halifax have revealed.

The average home increased in value by one per cent during the month, a figure the bank described as being "slightly below" the recent norm.

Over the course of 2009, the cost of buying a home was up by 1.1 per cent to £169,042, with this overall increase being the result six months in a row of price rises.

The lender said that low interest rates and a rise in the number of people in employment in October and November helped to increase the level of transactions, but it also suggested those looking for a mortgage in 2010 would see prices remaining stable.

Other recent surveys have also indicated that house values are still on the up.

These include the Land Registry figures for November, out late last month, which showed a 0.9 per cent hike across England and Wales.