HOUSE prices in Scotland have surged by 16.9% to a record high of £181,000.

Across the UK, the average price was £25,000 higher in August than a year earlier, according to official figures.

Property values increased by 10.6% over the year to August 2021, up from 8.5% in July, the Office for National Statistics said.

It added: “The average UK house price was £264,000 in August 2021, which is £25,000 higher than this time last year.”

Average house prices increased over the year in England to £281,000 (a 9.8% annual increase), in Wales to £195,000 (12.5%) and in Northern Ireland to £153,000 (9.0%).

ONS head of economic statistics Sam Beckett said: “Scotland saw the highest growth in house prices and although London’s growth was once again the weakest, it has picked up significantly from last month’s trough.”

In England, for the ninth month in a row, London was the region with the lowest annual house price growth (7.5%) – although prices there still hit a new record high in August.

The North East had the highest annual house price growth in England, with average prices increasing by 13.3%.

London’s average house price remained the highest of any region in the UK at an average of £526,000.