Spotlight on Ramsbottom

WHERE: Four miles north of Bury on the edge of the Rossendale Valley. Fifteen miles from Manchester, the town centres on a crossroads dominated by the Grants Arms pub, but spreads out along the main road to almost merge with Holcombe Brook. Contained by the M66 to the east, houses roam up the western hillside to the Rake which gives amazing views over the valley. One house here changed hands this year for just short of £1m.

WHY: A traditional old mill town that has transformed itself into a trendy property hot-spot despite the fact that a large paper mill is still operational and transport giant TNT decided to locate its headquarters here. It has many of the trappings associated with residential success - two delis, a stylish florist, and a number of up market tea-shops, café bars and restaurants.

WHO: Has become something of a magnet for media types who commute into Manchester down the nearby M66 and newly-opened M60 link. There is one large estate which provides premium accommodation for families attracted here by the good schools. And young thirty-somethings are said to view `Rammy' as the new Didsbury. Come the weekend the streets are thronged with day-trippers attracted by the East Lancashire Railway which often runs steam trains between Ramsbottom and Bury.

SCHOOLS: Several good primary schools but the main plus point is the presence of Woodhey High School, an excellent state secondary.

AGENT'S VIEW: "It has become incredibly trendy to live here and foreigners from Cheshire and Manchester have pushed the prices up," said Nicholas Clegg. "The opening of the M60 means that Manchester Airport is 25 minutes away and prices here have risen 35 per cent in the last two years, the stone-built terraces more than that. What was £45,000 is now more like £85,000. The average time a property on the market is 26 days." Another agent, Julian Ferrier, said: "The land round here is protected so any new property has to be redevelopment of an old site which limits numbers and makes them very sought after. There is also a huge lettings market here. I had one guy previously renting in Manchester who has taken a massive place for £650 a month, down from £850 and he cannot believe the space he gets here for his money."

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