HOMEOWNERS in the UK spent £9.7 billion on moving house in 2017, says price comparison website Comparemymove.com

The average mover faced £9,580 on extra moving costs, according to the company, which enables people to compare prices from different removals firms.

The most expensive place to move house last year was revealed to be London, where existing homeowners notched up an average £28,714 in extra costs. Also in the capital city, first-time buyers paid an average £7,765.

The cheapest region to move house - £5,058 on average - is the North East.

By comparison, the cost in the North West last year was £6,158. The UK average is £9,580.

Comparemymove.com has set up a free, online calculator where people can work out the potential cost of moving house. The Cardiff-based company says the unexpected cost of moving can be especially stressful for first-time buyers who have spent years saving for a house.

It added that there are many ways to reduce costs, including doing your own conveyancing.