A THREE-bedroom house in Bursledon went under the auctioneer's hammer for £230,000 in a bidding war.

Faversham House at Oak Hill, on a good-size plot and freehold, was among 22 lots being sold by regional land and property auctioneers Clive Emson and went for £50,000 above estimate.

Sold prior to auction was 1 Coronation Parade, Hamble, which had a guide price of £190-210,000. The property has a convenience store on the ground floor and a flat above, generating £22,700 a year. The shop is unaffected by the sale of the freehold.

Rob Marchant, auctioneer and a familiar figure on BBC's Homes Under the Hammer, said: "Speaking generally, bidders appear to have more confidence as the economy recovers.

"Figures from Nationwide showed that house prices went up at their fastest annual rate in more than three years during September, backed by data which shows that the pick-up is becoming increasingly broad based."

Starting at 11am, the eighth of Clive Emson's eight regional sales this year takes place at the same venue, The Ageas Bowl, West End, Southampton, on Monday, December 16.