The Spanish way of life continues to be alluring to people from the UK looking to buy a home abroad, an expert has said.

Mark Stucklin managing director of advice website Spanish Property Insight, said that Spain has a "sophisticated" property market that provides Brits with all the support services they require to secure a property and live in the country.

"There''s also something about the Spanish way of life and the Spanish character which the British just find in itself incredibly appealing and want to be a part of," he commented.

According to research conducted by Halifax, house prices in Spain have experienced dramatic growth over the last five years, growing by 100 per cent.

There are many attractive areas for buyers looking for a home in the sun, from those who would like to live in the heart of a bustling city such as Madrid to traditional beach resorts on the Costa Blanca.

Mortgage specialists Trafalgar Square Overseas say that the Catalonia region is proving popular, with house price inflation standing at 14.3 per cent.