Spotlight on Monton

WHERE: Five miles north west of Manchester just off the M60 and M602.

WHY: A slightly cheaper alternative to desirable Worsley. The same village feel with its own high street of individual designer shops, quaint village green, the canal running through green spaces on the doorstep and good access to the motorway but not quite the same prices.

A large five-bed Victorian pile here will cost about £500,000 compared to £800,000 for the same splendour in Worsley. The housing stock and good transport links make it popular with commuters.

WHO: The large houses around Ellesmere Park attract professionals and self-made entrepreneurs but close to the village proper are lots of nice terraced streets with good houses which can be bought for under £100,000. First-timers may find the only thing they can afford will be a flat. A one-bedroom just sold for £70,000 but new building is going on all the time on every pocket of land available - mainly apartment blocks but some larger houses. Planning has just been given for a huge redevelopment of the old Eccles College site right by the side of Swinton Park golf course.

TRANSPORT: The M602 runs close to the centre but you have to go to the huge Eccles interchange five minutes away to get on the motorway network.You can drive to Eccles and park, then ride the Metrolink into Manchester.

SCHOOLS: St Patrick's RC High got 53 per cent of pupils through five GCSEs at A-C while nearby Wentworth High achieved 21 per cent.

AGENT: Mark Williamson, from agents Urban Bases, said: "People do compare Worsley and Monton because they have a similar feel but there are slightly more properties available here. There is also a ready market of buyers and renters because of all the staff at nearby Hope Hospital and its good communications also make it perfect for the commute into Manchester. Last year we saw an 18 per cent increase in prices but because first-timers can just about still afford here it kicks off the chain all the way through which means the market is incredibly busy. We've seen a 25 per cent increase in activity.

"There's a lot of new development going on, both flats and houses, which means a continuing stream of new properties coming on which further fuels the market."