People are willing to spend a third of their annual salary on a garden, according to new research by Yorkshire Bank.

And, the mortgage lender found that the average British homeowner thought their garden added £9,000 to the value of their property.

In its quarterly Homebuyers Report, the bank showed many people think adding garden is a good way of increasing an estate agents valuation of an existing property.

Gary Lumby, Yorkshire Bank''s head of retail, said: "As the housing market continues to slowdown, many are looking at ways of adding value to their homes."

"Our research shows that gardens are highly prized," he added.

British house prices fell by 1.8 per cent in August, taking the annual fall into double digits (10.9 per cent).

The drop in value is the fifth consecutive monthly fall in house prices, with the average property in the UK now valued at £174,178, the lowest it has been since early 2006.

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