A safe community is important to prospective buyers looking for a new home, research has shown.

Some 74 per cent of people questioned in the Yorkshire Bank's quarterly housebuyers survey said they find a British neighbourhood watch programme positive and reassuring.

In addition, 54 per cent of those new to the property ladder said they would spend more on a house in an area with a strong sense of community.

Only one in five people questioned said, however, that they would like to get to know their neighbours better.

`Having a sense of community is still a very important factor in the buying process and there is a genuine desire for neighbourhood watch programmes and community groups,` said Gary Lumby, Yorkshire Bank.

`However … people want the best of both worlds, mixing privacy in their home whilst still holding onto community spirit,` he added.

Meanwhile, the Town and Country Planning Association has advocated the building of more gardens and green spaces to make developments more attractive to residents.