Buyers from across the UK are helping to fuel a boom in Peebles house sales.

New statistics released by leading Scottish property consultants, CKD Galbraith, based on research from the firm’s Peebles and Kelso offices, show a 14% jump in Peebles sales.

The second quarter of 2014 (April – June) saw property sales increase and a significant rise since the same period last year in the number of viewings and buyers registered with the firm.

The number of viewings has increased by 79 per cent in Peebles with the number of buyers registered with the agent quadrupling compared to the previous quarter of 2014.

In Peebles 72.5% of buyers were locally based; 26.5% were national buyers; 1% were international buyers.

The firm’s boss Alex Inglis, based at the Kelso office said: “The high levels of national interest translated into short sales with the quickest in Peebles taking just two months.

“We fully expect the levels of interest and confidence shown in the last quarter to progress into high sale figures over the coming months too.” Sales are up 12% in Kelso but the town is attracting a huge number of national buyers registering with the firm.

In Kelso 20% of buyers were locally based; 70% were national buyers; 10% were international buyers.

CKD Galbraith’s Galashiels lettings department have also experienced a successful second quarter.

Shirley Kenyon, head of lettings in the Galashiels office, said: “The second quarter of this year saw a 32 per cent increase in the number of property lets through our Galashiels office covering the boarders region.

“This is a promising increase which we are confident will continue through the current quarter and the next. “Three to four bedroom properties continue to be in high demand with the average time taken to let properties in the region remaining between four to six weeks.

“The nearby towns of Kelso and Peebles are popular commuter towns and demand for good quality properties to let is predicted to increase.”