England and Tottenham Hotspur defender Jonathan Woodgate has hit out at house prices in London.

The injury-prone footballer moved to north London in January after Spurs bought him from Middlesbrough.

However, Woodgate has been unable to find a property to buy because he thinks that prices are too high in the capital.

Instead he has been staying in a hotel until he and his girlfriend manage to find the right house at the right price.

"We need to find a place to live. We''ve seen apartments, we''ve seen houses and all the prices and it''s a lot more expensive down here than it is up north," he said ahead of Spurs'' Uefa Cup tie against Slavia Prague.

"I think you could buy ten penthouses up north for the price of something down here. House prices are a joke, they are. It''s unbelievable. When you are looking about and you see some of the houses, you think ''What?''

"But that''s London and that''s the way it is. Hopefully, I can find a house and get settled," he added.

Winkworth estate agency recently reported that sales picked up in most of its London branches in January and early February.