The sold signs haven’t stopped going up for the Stratford-upon-Avon branch of Knight Frank so far this year.

The office agreed sales on more than £12.5 million worth of property in January, ranging from a £500,000 home to those costing more than £1 million.

This was on top of an exceptionally busy winter with contracts exchanged on more than £6.3 million worth of property in December alone.

James Way, head of the Stratford branch, said that it was unusual to be so busy at this time.

“It’s encouraging that the phones have been so busy in the first few weeks of the year, given that the market is traditionally slower over the winter period.

“We’ve had new buyers registering with us and new instructions coming to the market; everything from cottages and townhouses to manor houses and equestrian properties.”

Town properties continue to be the most in demand, although the office had also seen a lot of interest in country homes in popular areas such as south Warwickshire and the north Cotswolds.

Forty six per cent of the buyers had come from outside the local area while eight per cent were international buyers wanting to invest in the UK.

Mr Way said it looked as though agents would continue to face problems this year trying to satisfy the high numbers of would-be buyers as “a lack of available properties will remain a key feature with demand continuing to outstrip supply.

“The market across our region remains active, especially in the south of the region and in the fashionable areas of Stratford-upon-Avon and Leamington Spa.”