In another strong sign that the UK property market has entered recovery mode, research from property website Zoopla reveals that the number of properties available for sale that have been discounted and the amount of the discount offered from the original asking price have both fallen sharply over the past 12 months.

The proportion of properties on the market in the UK today with an asking price that has been reduced at least once has fallen from 37 per cent one year ago to 32 per cent today. And the average discount to the original asking price has come down from 7.6 per cent last August to only 6.3 per cent now.

The north-south property divide remains clearly evident in the Zoopla research, showing all of the top ten areas with the highest proportion of discounted properties being in the north and nine of the top ten areas with the biggest discounts on offer also being in the north.

London continues to have the lowest proportion of discounted properties on the market with less than a quarter (22.8 per cent) of properties for sale in the capital today having seen their asking price reduced since being listed for sale.

This fall in the proportion and level of asking price discounts is a good signal to suggest that sellers are feeling more confident and happy to wait it out to achieve their target asking price.

First-time buyers are finally getting a look-in due to improved mortgage availability which in turn is lifting the whole market. Banks, sellers and buyers are all more bullish about the state of the economy, which bodes well for the months ahead. And the Bank of England's forward guidance on interest rates has generated a greater sense of certainty about the future, which should lead to even more activity.

Temperatures were rising last month and house prices have been doing the same, writes Leon Broady of The Property Centre.

Property website Zoopla.co.uk reported rising house prices in every part of Britain in the past three months to July, meaning the housing market is showing more life than it has in years.

The sun is shining for existing homeowners. 'Second-steppers' in particular have much to celebrate, as rising house prices could make it easier for them to sell and move up the housing ladder. And it is cheering news for landlords and others who have invested in a property in the hope of eventually selling it off at a profit.

House prices also help boost confidence in the economy as a whole. A study by the consultancy Capital Economics found consumer confidence rose and fell when house prices rose and fell.

Some may find the outlook a little more overcast. Aspiring first-time buyers may worry a house price rise may push properties out of their reach. House prices in London have not only recovered from the financial shocks of 2008, they have been above the previous 2007 peak for 15 months in a row.

But at £383,930, the average house in London is worth almost four times that of a house in the north east of England. Across the country as a whole, house prices are still only moving upwards at a moderate pace.

And even in areas where houses might be looking more expensive, the size of the deposit a first-time buyer needs to find can only go down.

Launched by the Government in April, the Help to Buy equity loan scheme allows first-time buyers to put down a five per cent deposit on a new build home. The Government hopes the second part of Help to Buy, a mortgage guarantee scheme launched in January 2014, will give homebuyers with a modest deposit even more choice in mortgages.

If you would like to speak to an independent mortgage adviser today you can contact The Property Centre by calling 0800 583 3000 or emailing at info@thepropertycentres.co.uk. To find out more, you can also visit www.thepropertycentres.co.uk.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. There will be a fee for mortgage advice. The actual amount you pay will depend upon your circumstances. The fee is up to one per cent but a typical fee is 0.3 per cent of the amount borrowed.

HUNDREDS of Gloucester children will be given free tickets to Rugby World Cup matches played in the city.

Families will also be getting into rugby fever at a waterfront 'fan zone' in Gloucester Docks when four World Cup matches are played at the city's Kingsholm stadium in September 2015.

Giant TV screens will be installed at the docks when the city hosts four matches.

Five hundred youngsters from less affluent areas of the city will be offered a chance to get their hands on one of the tickets thanks to Gloucester City Council.

Bosses said they want to create a 'first class spectator experience that provides unforgettable memories' for city families.

City council leader Paul James, who is a rugby fan himself, said: "We wanted to reach out to our most disadvantaged children as part of our bid to be a host.

"We could even look at setting up more than one fan zone. I am sure the city centre will also want to get a piece of the action.

"The matches will of course be shown in many pubs and bars too and we certainly don't want to take trade away from them."

The eyes of world will be focused on the city and thousands of people are expected to visit.

A summer festival and the annual Blues Festival could be moved to the autumn to coincide with the matches.

Volunteers from around the city will also be enlisted to help out, with planners taking inspiration from the massive volunteer take-up at the London Olympics.

The council has set aside £350,000 to pay for the plans.

Rugby fan Elias McGill, 20, from Brockworth, said: "I think it's a great idea, anything that could increase the footfall into Gloucester can only be beneficial to the city even if it does cause some inconvenience for nearby residents."

Tony Lloyd, owner of Salt Waters gift and home style shop, based at the Docks, said: "I am a great believer in trying to create events in the Docks that get people to spend their time here."

Barry Leach, from the Gloucester City Centre Community Partnership, has urged organisers to consult residents of the Docks on the plans.

He said: "The idea of a fan zone is a good one. It will add more vibrancy to the city.

"But we have to remember that the Docks are also a residential area and it is essential that any plans are not a fait accompli and that residents are consulted."

SEVEN hours spent backed up in queues by customs officers in Gibraltar wrecked a Quedgeley family's visit to the territory.

Alastair Chambers, his wife Stephanie and their five children visited at the beginning of August during a holiday in Spain – just as a huge dispute over fishing in its waters reached boiling point.

The row between British and Spanish authorities has seen those trying to leave Gibraltar held up for hours at a time in what has been called a deliberate attempt by Spanish officials to make life as difficult as possible during the diplomatic row.

Alastair, 37, who runs his own construction company as well as the Break the Chain service to get former prisioners back into work, said he had seen shocking scenes while he was there.

"The whole of Gibraltar was backed up with traffic," he said.

"We were sent right around the back of it, overlooking Africa, to a holding area that was full of hundreds and hundreds of cars.

"There was no welfare, it was so hot and people were really struggling. They were having to go to the toilet in the street and there were a lot of elderly people having a really tough time.

"Eventually they brought some water round but our visit to Gibraltar was completely spoiled."

Finally, he and his family were allowed to leave – and got straight out.

"They didn't even check our car when we left, they didn't look at our passports or anything," he said.

"They had just been taking as long as possible with a few cars at the start to make everyone's life as difficult as they possibly could, then let everyone off."

Alastair is half Spanish and said he wanted to see a resolution to the dispute over the British territory.

"The Spanish argument is that when they signed the declaration with Britain, no waters were included so technically Gibraltar doesn't have any waters to fish in," he said.

"Our friend there said he thinks it's more to do with the fact there's no VAT on Gibraltar so everyone in that part of Spain nips over, fills up their car, buys all their supplies, and goes back. With Spain's economy in crisis, they are probably losing hundreds of thousands a day and they want Gibraltar back."

MEP Julie Girling, who represents Gibraltar as well as the South West of England, has been the target of abuse by some Twitter users for standing up to Spain's "bullying".

The row began when a manmade concrete reef began to be erected in waters off the territory.

MEASURING one metre wide and 30cm deep, this hole in the road near a school has been described as "like a mine" – and you can see why.

The crater has opened up in Witcombe Place in Cheltenham, near to St John's Primary School.

School caretaker Mike Little reported the hole to Gloucestershire Highways at the beginning of last month, but it still hasn't been fixed.

And the 56-year-old is worried a school bus could fall into the hole when pupils return for the new academic year next month.

"Our children will be coming back to school soon and it is dangerous for them," he said.

"I told them (Gloucestershire Highways) before the holidays that this needs doing but it still hasn't been sorted.

"We have coaches going down here and someone could be injured.

"A coach could reverse into the hole. It really is very dangerous."

He added: "All they have done is put two barriers up, which keep falling down.

"Originally the hole was the size of a tennis ball so I put a cone over it, but it keeps getting bigger.

"It's more like a mine beneath the road than a pothole now."

Mr Little said no pupils walk down the road to reach the school so he is not concerned a child could fall in.

The delay in repairing the hole has been caused by a mix up between Gloucestershire Highways and Severn Trent Water.

Originally the hole was believed to have been caused by a collapsed sewer beneath the road.

So Gloucestershire Highways reported the incident to Severn Trent Water, which is responsible for the sewers.

But an investigation by Severn Trent found that the hole was not actually caused by a sewer collapse.

As a result, the ball is now back in Gloucestershire Highways court in regards to carrying out the repairs.

Local highways manager for the authority, Chris Riley, said: "We believed the hole was caused by a collapsed sewer.

"However Severn Trent don't think this to be the case after their initial investigations.

"Gloucestershire Highways will now arrange for the hole to be repaired while continuing to work with Severn Trent."

The giant pothole has also angered residents in Witcombe Place.

One man, who asked not to be named, said he couldn't understand why it was taking so long to fix the road.

"It is ridiculous, really," he said.

"It's certainly bigger than your average pothole so you would think they would get it fixed as soon as possible. But obviously not."

He said the hole had not proven a big problem for residents as the barriers made it clear it was there.

"But we obviously still want it fixed as soon as possible," he added.

Is there a huge pothole in your road? Are you sick of driving over holes in the road? Call the Echo'snewsdesk on 01242 278081 or email your photos to pictures@glosmedia.co.uk.

OPINION, P8

HOMESPUN Gloucester must fight to prove there can still be more to rugby than money.

That's the rallying cry from player/backs coach Mike Tindall, as the Cherry and Whites gear up for a return to Heineken Cup action this term.

Cash-rich French clubs are starting to dominate the European scene, their spending power eclipsing their continental rivals.

The Irish provinces still benefit from less demanding domestic competition scheduling to keep their frontline stars fresh for the most brutal Heineken Cup battles.

But Premiership clubs must fight a war of attrition on two fronts with little respite in order to claim European success.

Gloucester felt the full force of the French gold standard in Toulon on Friday, August 9, brushed aside 42-17 by the reigning Heineken Cup champions.

The Stade Mayol club number among a nucleus of potent French outfits starting to believe it is easier to lift the Heineken Cup than the Top 14 title.

That view neatly underlines the Gallic domination of the European scene.

And it is also one that frustrates World Cup-winner Tindall.

The 34-year-old centre has challenged the Cherry and Whites to use French clubs' aristocratic status as motivation for the campaign ahead.

Otley-born Tindall believes Gloucester must be buoyed up to show money is not the only thing that makes the rugby world go round.

The former Bath midfielder knows what a tall order that is though, admitting only at their very best can Nigel Davies' men compete with Europe's elite.

Gloucester will continue their pre-season preparations by taking on Munster at Thomond Park on Saturday (kick-off 5pm).

The Cherry and Whites will face the decorated Irish province twice more this term in Pool Six of the Heineken Cup.

Unfazed by the humbling in Toulon, Tindall remains confident the Kingsholm men will acquit themselves well in Europe this season.

Tindall explained: "On our day we can beat anyone, but you've always got to look at salary caps and depth in squads.

"Our first team is very strong, but then teams like Toulon obviously have far more depth.

"That's no criticism, that's the way it is and we've just got to compete against that.

"On our day though, we've still got the ability to beat anyone.

"And the challenge is to make sure we're on our day far more often than not.

"Doing it week-in, week-out, that's what we've got to work on.

"That's why this pre-season has been a lot more mentally testing, because we've got to work on that mindset side and our steel there.

"We've got to use the gulf in squad budgets between England and France as motivation.

"We've got to try to prove a point and show that money isn't everything.

"What a challenge that is, but it's one that I'm sure everyone at Gloucester would absolutely love to pull off.

"I'd really like to think rugby can still be about more than money in the long-run.

"Maybe clubs like Gloucester can play their part in that, especially if we can be successful but also with a prudent financial approach to safeguard the future of the club too."

Tindall worries increasing investment in squad size and wage bills across The Channel threatens to change rugby's face forever.

Proud of Gloucester's commitment to producing homegrown talent, Tindall remains confident the Cherry and Whites can still build competitive squads without breaking the bank.

Senior academy new recruit Reece Boughton made his debut out in Toulon, the 18-year-old scrum-half going up against seasoned Springbok Michael Claassens.

Tindall believes the Kingsholm production line is the kind of talent mainstay every club should aim to build.

And he has baked the Cherry and Whites to continue churning out future stars of the highest calibre.

He continued: "Reece is a great example – Gloucester might not have five Bryan Habanas, but the club is excellent at developing future stars.

"If you have an increasing amount of world talent, perhaps local youngsters do not have the opportunities soon enough.

"So many of the integral players in our squad are local lads, that's what makes Gloucester special, and that's what we want to hang on to."

A charity has been the first to benefit from the City Council's Property Facelift Scheme.

Footsteps Counselling and Care provide help and support for any issues related to pregnancy.

They have just relocated within the city from a cramped and difficult location in Northgate Street to Westgate Street.

Here they have been able to open a charity shop on the ground floor with offices, storage and counselling rooms above.

The transformation of the ground floor shop front was helped with a grant of more than £1,600 from the City Council's Economic Development Team. It is part of a package where eligible businesses can choose to apply for help with two out of three options covering rent, rates or repairs.

Katherine Goatley, a trustee of the charity, said: " We were operating in very cramped conditions and this new location not only provides better accommodation but space for a charity shop as well. We are also now also in a higher profile city centre location which is obviously much better for us."

The charity provides free counselling and support for people who have experienced a pregnancy loss such as miscarriage or termination as well as those who have had a stillbirth or neonatal death, suffered antenatal or postnatal depression or been involved in adoption or childcare proceedings as well as for problems in pregnancy generally.

Council Leader, Paul James, commented: " This work has dramatically improved the appearance of the property . It is an example of our award winning approach to helping the local economy which has a great many benefits. This charity has taken over a premises which had been laying empty for some time – which none of us wants to see. It also provides them with a 'high street' presence which is obviously much better for the excellent work they are doing."

More information on the City Council's business grants is available by calling

Tel: 01452 396986; emailing:  eds@gloucester.gov.uk or visiting the City Council's website at www.gloucester.gov.uk

FLY tipping and littering in Gloucester is causing concern to those on four legs as well as those on two.

Trudy Newman, from Gloucester, walks her dog Archie through the city centre every Saturday and Sunday at 6.30am.

She is appalled by the state of the city's streets and fears for the safety of dog owners and their pets.

She said: "In Eastgate Street you don't even know where to put your feet down it's that bad.

"There is takeaway packaging everywhere, cans, chicken bones, broken glass, it really is disgusting.

"With the glass and the bones it can be really dangerous for dogs."

Mrs Newman has been walking her dog, a six-year-old wolfhound cross, through the city centre for the past eight months.

She has now called upon the council, businesses and residents to start taking pride in the appearance of their community.

"It's been getting gradually worse since I started walking him," she added.

"Even the Cathedral area is bad, I have had to clear that up before.

"It is such a shame because when you get to the Docks it is immaculate.

"Rather than the council spend millions of pounds developing one particular area, I would rather see them spend it on the city generally, giving it a clean up and a lick of paint.

"When it is all clean and tidy it looks lovely, but sadly it doesn't all the time and that is how places get a bad name."

A spokesman for Gloucester City Council said: "Enterprise clean the streets from 8am to 9am every day. After that our street cleaners work from the Cross outwards for the rest of the day."

TWO schoolgirls flew into the record books in Cirencester yesterday as the world's youngest wing-walking formation team.

Nine-year-old cousins Flame Brewer and Rose Towell, from London, were harnessed to two of their grandfather Vic Norman's 1942 Boeing Spearman aircrafts at RFC Rendcomb.

They flew at speeds of up to 100mph, just metres from each other and 500ft over the countryside.

Brave Rose said: " It felt like I was a little bird and I was flying above lots of little model houses and villages.

Flame added: "When they started up the engines and we went along the runway it was really bumpy but when we got in the air it was really good.

"I did lots of waving – it was too windy to do any other moves."

The girls are the third generation of their family to walk on the wings of the planes, and Flame's big brother Tiger holds the world record for the youngest wing-walker, which he achieved in 2009, aged eight.

"PLEASE don't do this," is one person's simple plea, spoken on behalf of more than 300 people united against plans to build 175 homes on greenbelt land.

A bid to build on protected land at Brizen Farm, just off Shurdington Lane, was lodged in April this year.

And with public consultation due to come to a close in the coming months, the number of comments submitted currently stands at 320 – with all but three against the plans.

The planning application, which will eventually be debated by councillors in Tewkesbury, seeks outline permission to build 175 homes, associated parking, new access onto the A46 and public open space.

One of the emails sent to the borough council expressing anger at the plans states: "Once again developers

trying to build on greenbelt land. This area already floods, the traffic is horrendously busy and the schools cannot cope.

"This is a Tewkesbury application which will

affect Cheltenham residents. Please don't do this."

Meanwhile, another states: "The area to be developed is part of the greenbelt.

"Development would cause further traffic congestion and pollution and impact on the already oversubscribed schools."

Developers tried to build houses on the land before, but that bid was halted.

Kit Braunholtz, chairman of Leckhampton Green Land Action Group (Leglag), has been leading the fight against the latest move.

"Leglag is just about to put in its final objections," he said. "The main point is that it is greenbelt land and it is premature to apply to build there until the local plans are ready.

"There is also the factor of increased traffic using the Shurdington Road, which would be serious.

"It would also damage the visual environment. It should not be applied for at this time.

"Our points are pretty strong and I think TBC will agree with us and turn it down. It is a ridiculous place to build houses."

CONTROVERSIAL plans to knock down a block of garages at St Luke's Church Hall have been approved.

Plans for the St Luke's Place site included pulling down the 10 garages and making an 11-space car park in its place.

Three residents objected to the proposal sent to Cheltenham Borough Council.

One was concerned with a lack of boundary fence between the car park and the church while others worried about the asbestos and noise caused by demolition.

One tenant kept a bike and maintenance paraphernalia in the garage and said they were "miffed" paying tenants had not been consulted first.

But planning chiefs have given the go-ahead for the changes.

A THREE-year-old boy suffered serious leg injuries after he was hit by a four-by-four car in St Paul's Street North, Cheltenham.

Emergency services were called there shortly before 7pm on Tuesday, to reports that a black Honda HR-V had been in collision with a child.

The boy, who is from Malaysia, was taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital with serious injuries to his legs.

The driver of the Honda, a 44-year-old man from Bishop's Cleeve, was spoken to by officers at the scene.

Michael Willoughby, who lives nearby, said: "The road was closed off at both ends by police officers.

"It doesn't surprise me this has happened because this place is like a racetrack at night."

Any witnesses to the crash are asked to call Gloucestershire Police on 101, quoting incident number 402 of August 20.

A spokeswoman for South Western Ambulance Service confirmed they were initially called to the scene to deal with the child.

The ambulance was stood down however, when the child's father agreed to take him to hospital.

THOUSANDS of children in Cheltenham are preparing to start secondary school next month – and the cost of buying everything they need is hitting their parents in the pocket.

With the need for uniforms, bags and pencil cases, parents are finding themselves forced to shell out.

But how much does it cost to get a child ready to start school?

Colette Thompson spent around £200 getting her daughter Xanthe, 11, ready for Balcarras School.

Colette, from Charlton Kings, bought Xanthe's new uniform and sports kit at the beginning of the summer holidays to avoid the last minute rush.

This included shirts, skirts, shoes, trainers socks and blazers.

The mum-of-three said: "Primary schools tend to have a more casual approach to uniform than secondary schools, so she has gone from polo shirts to blazers and regulation skirts.

"They grow so quickly that I always make sure I buy it with a lot of growing room as you don't want the hassle of going to the shops all the time.

"My eldest child went to Pates and the other at Balcarras is a boy, so I had to buy it all new, but their uniform takes such a hammering over the years, I don't think you could re-use it anyway."

But Colette said it was all worth it.

"Xanthe has tried it on and is really excited," she said. "She feels grown up and really likes it. It is momentous seeing them in their new uniform looking all grown up and it is always a bit emotional seeing them in it for the first time."

This year, 6305 Gloucestershire pupils have been allocated a secondary school within the county or in a neighbouring one.

The bigger picture on the price of having children is even more alarming.

A national study has found that it now costs a minimum of £148,000 to bring up a child to the age of 18.

VISITORS to The Brewery will be reaching new heights today.

Shoppers will be able to have a go at climbing up a seven metre high tower.

It is one of a range of activities the complex has put on during the holidays.

The wall is courtesy of the Warehouse Climbing Centre in Gloucester.