Stamp duty for first-time house buyers has almost doubled in just five years, according to new figures.

The average bill is now £1,751 for those seeking their first property. The most expensive areas are London and the south-east of England.

But why not take a look around you patch and see the how the cost of property is affecting people in your area.

Perhaps a local estate agent or building society is running a special scheme to encourage first-time buyers to stay in the area rather than moving somewhere cheaper.

They might even be able to put you in touch with a first-time buyer with a story to tell.