A Suffolk seaside town has been named one of the most expensive in the country.

East Anglian Daily Times: Mayor of Aldeburgh, John DigbyMayor of Aldeburgh, John Digby

Aldeburgh, where the average house price is around £439,000, has been ranked fourth in a list compiled by Halifax.

The company’s Annual Seaside Town review includes the picturesque location on its top 10 list which is headed up by three places in the South West – Sandbanks, Salcombe and Padstow.

In fact Aldeburgh is the only East Anglian seaside town to be included on the list.

Last week we reported how the average house prices in the region have soared in the last two decades, with Aldeburgh’s IP15 postcode having seen a 432% increase from 1995 to 2015.

Up the coast in IP18, home to Southwold, a 418% rise was seen in the same period – but not enough to push it into Halifax’s top 10.

Aldeburgh mayor John Digby said the results of the survey did not come as a shock to him.

“It’s an old chestnut this one,” he said. “It’s not a surprise because we have got a lovely seaside town with lots of good traditions.

“People seem to have a desire to live by the sea especially when they are retired.”

However he added the prices were not good for everyone: “The only sad thing is it does price a lot of the youngsters out of the market.

“It’s a good thing for people who own houses in Aldeburgh but you can’t do anything about market prices.

“It’s just one of those things you have to live with like in Southwold.”

As well as the beautiful seaside location of the town Mr Digby said its rich heritage could be another reason people are drawn to the area.

Maureen Jones, who represents Aldeburgh ward on Suffolk Coastal District Council, also said the property prices hindered young buyers.

Talking about the list she said: “It’s got negative parts for the youngsters, they can’t afford to buy the houses but the trouble is what happens with these big houses in Aldeburgh?

“There’s some very small cottages along the main street but because of where they are they are really not suitable for first-time buyers.

“I think it’s a problem Aldeburgh is always going to have.”

Martin Ellis, from Halifax, said: “Seaside towns are highly popular places to live, offering sought-after scenery, weather and lifestyle which no doubt come at a price.

“They also attract those looking for holiday properties, which add upward pressure on house prices, which our research shows have increased by an average of £440 per month since 2006.”

Aldeburgh does have a long way to go until it tops the list of most expensive seaside towns though – the average price of a property in Sandbanks, a haven for celebrities, is more than £650,000.