THE price of a home in the Forest and Wye Valley has soared by as much as 25 per cent in a year as the district catches up with property fever.

Some homes have now doubled in value since the mid-1990s and the last few months have seen the steepest rises of all, say agents across the area.

Alan Wasley of the Property Shop in Lydney said that sort of rise was not far short of the rises other parts of the country had taken two years to achieve.

He said people selling the 'ideal property' – a country cottage with an acre of ground – were in some cases asking even more than estate agents recommended, and getting it.

Some 18 months ago a Review story predicted a local price boom after a national internet agent flagged the Dean up as a desirable place to buy at reasonable prices.

People are now attracted here for all the reasons mentioned: homes with land at affordable prices, easy access to larger cities such as Bristol, Birmingham, Newport and Cardiff, and above all a superb setting.

Both Mr Wasley and David Toombs of Kevin J. Toombs said they were receiving interest from people in the Home Counties who could sell properties like a three-bed semi for £280,000 and convert this into substantial property with land in the Forest.

"Another big factor is people who can now work at home for some or all of the week," said David Toombs. "That makes a home here much more practical."

He said while villages fringing the Forest had been most popular in the past, interest was now moving into all areas.

Andrew May of Steve Gooch in Coleford also said working from home was a factor although upgrading, holiday property, buy-to-rent, retirement and investment were also driving sales – property was a better investment than the stock market .

All the agents said a high percentage of buyers – between 50 per cent and 70 per cent – were from outside the area.

While demand remained high and supply was low they expected the situation to continue.

Things were difficult but not impossible for first time buyers – lending remained cheap while interest rates were low, and this was the single factor most likely to influence future trends.