Scottish property sales topped £5 billion in the third quarter of the year taking average house prices in two areas over £250,000 for the first time, a study has found.

In Edinburgh and East Renfrewshire, the average home now costs more than quarter of a million pounds, according to research by estate agent Aberdein Considine.

The firm's Property Monitor, shows Scottish property sales, average prices and market values all increased during the third quarter of the year.

For the second consecutive quarter, East Renfrewshire recorded the highest average price in Scotland, with an average sale of £261,512 during the period. This figure was up 5.9% on the same time last year.

It is just ahead of Edinburgh, where average prices rose 6.6% year-on-year to £257,220.

Perth and Kinross enjoyed its second consecutive quarter of "considerable" growth. It followed its near 10% price increase in Q2 with another 6.1% rise this quarter.

The back-to-back increases put the average home in the region at £203,398 which overtakes Aberdeen.

The Granite City, however, recorded its first year-on-year average price increase since the oil and gas downturn which signalled that the market in the north-east is beginning to improve. Neighbouring Aberdeenshire also enjoyed an increase in sale volumes for consecutive quarters.

Jacqueline Law, managing partner at Aberdein Considine, said: "The property market in Scotland is enjoying a spell of growth not seen since the halcyon days prior to the financial crash of 2007/08.

"More than 28,000 homes changed hands during the third quarter of the year, up nearly 4% on the same period last year and almost 2,000 more than Q2.

"Just under 3,500 of these sales came in Edinburgh, the busiest property market in Scotland, with Glasgow a close second. And for the first time, Scotland has two areas where the average home will set you back more than a quarter of a million pounds.

"This market buoyancy is best highlighted when you dig deeper into certain parts of the capital, where properties are making more money per month than the average Scottish professional footballer."