Residential property in rural commuter towns have witnessed "a transformation of activity" according to upmarket estate agent Knight Frank, as the weakened pound and low interest rates help attract foreign and domestic buyers after a year of spiralling values.

The Knight Frank country house department - which deals with properties worth over £2m (€2.3m) - today said that January viewings had risen 80% against a year ago. Rupert Sweeting, head of Knight Frank's country department, said: "Compared with the run-up to Christmas, there has been a transformation in activity since the start of the New Year.