WHY: Close to the River Irwell, the Manchester, Bury and Bolton Canal runs through the heart of the town, which grew up around two massive paper mills. Sadly both of the mills are now closed and the town suffered a period of depression and is still often seen as the poor relation to both Whitefield and Bury.

But one of the mill sites is now a new housing development and builders Barratt have asked if they can alter the plans so they can build more larger four and five-bedroom homes.

The other mill complex may in the future be the site of a new super high school as the existing two are due to merge soon. The town centre has been revived and is full of interesting local shops and there is also a huge superstore on the outskirts.

TRANSPORT: The Metrolink provides services into both Bury and Manchester and there is also a regular bus service, which gets between the city and Radcliffe in 45 minutes.

WHO: The vast majority of people who buy in Radcliffe were born there but the huge surge in property prices has meant many first timers looking to get on to the property ladder have moved in.

AGENT'S VIEW: "It is a very parochial town," said Malcolm Allerton from agents T Wilkinson and Son.

"I guess around 95 per cent of people who live here were born here. It has gone through difficult times but recently a lot of money has been spent improving whole areas and the town centre and it has made a difference. And because house prices here were so low to start with - two years ago a terrace was around £38,000 - they seem to have gone up even higher and faster.

Eighteen months ago a nice three-bed semi was £50,000, now it is more like £100,000. But Radcliffe is still much cheaper than surrounding areas and first timers are coming in and snapping up the smaller properties, especially when they have been restored. Anything that is ready to move straight into is snapped up!"

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