People looking to get on to the property ladder by investing abroad have been advised to consider eastern Europe.

The fact that the market in western Europe is currently undergoing a similar price boom to that of the UK means that properties in the east of the continent are a lot more attractive to buyers, Your Mortgage has claimed.

However, editor of the magazine and website Paula John rejected claims that thousands of first-time buyers in the UK are looking to move to former eastern bloc countries because they cannot afford a property at home.

"There have been some surveys out that have claimed that thousands of first-time buyers are going to go and buy their first property in Bulgaria because they're priced out of this market - I don't buy it to be honest," she said.

Nevertheless, Ms John did admit that "there will be more people now than there were a decade ago who are willing to take a risk and buy a very cheap property".

According to HousePriceCrash.co.uk, first-time buyers now occupy 29 per cent of the market, having accounted for 55 per cent ten years ago.