UK house price growth accelerated to a six-month high, according to the UK Nationwide Building Society, as a separate report showed mortgage lending rising by the most since 2008.

British house price growth has accelerated and there were signs the market in London is heating up again, mortgage lender Nationwide said, adding to evidence the housing market has regained momentum.

UK home prices increased at their slowest annual pace in 14 months in January as housing transactions and demand cooled.

House prices in the UK have leapt by 11.1% over the last year in the strongest annual growth seen since June 2007, building society Nationwide has reported.

British house prices have recorded their biggest year-on-year decline in almost three years amid the toughening economy, Nationwide building society said yesterday.

House prices in the UK have dipped further amid the "soft" market, recording declines in four months out of the last five, Nationwide building society said today.

Rising unemployment, weak economic growth and squeezed household budgets have pushed the UK's consumer confidence closer to its all time low, according to a new survey published today.

House prices in the North suffered a 4.1% quarterly fall leading to prices averaging £118,723 (€136,722), down 9.3% on the year, according to figures released today.

Fears over the health of the UK retail sector were fuelled today as a flooring firm fell into administration and confidence on the high street hit a two-year low.

FIRST-QUARTER losses at building materials provider Readymix widened by €400,000 to €4.2 million this year, with revenue for the first three months of the year down by 27%, year-on-year.

House prices in Britain resumed their downward trend during April as the property market remained volatile, figures showed today.

British house prices increased modestly in March but the positive figures are unlikely to mark the beginning of a strong upturn for the market, Nationwide building society said today.

UK consumer confidence deteriorated sharply during February as price rises put pressure on people's disposable income and the economic recovery remained "sluggish", research indicated today.

Janet Jackson has obtained a restraining order against a man who the singer said has been stalking her for nine years.

Janet Jackson has claimed she fears for her life after being stalked by a New York man for nine years, according to legal documents.

Singer Janet Jackson is seeking a restraining order against a man she says has been stalking her for nine years and tried once to bring a knife to a New York studio where she was rehearsing for a TV appearance.