A property auction had to be moved to a larger venue at the last moment because attendance was unexpectedly so high.

Auction House, which partners with local estate agents, held the sale in the ballroom of the Landmark Hotel, Marylebone Road, London. It had been due to be held in a smaller room in the hotel.

A total of 72 lots sold – a success rate of 90% – raising £17,989,550.

Auctioneer Andrew Binstock said: “Auctions are the barometer of the property market, and having smashed another of our records in terms of the number of lots sold, it was a very encouraging day.

“It was a busy and lively auction with every lot seeing strong bidding.

“While other auctioneers have been struggling, our combination of correct pricing and successful marketing is clearly bringing results.”

The sale saw a number of highlights, including a one-bedroom ground floor flat in the up and coming area of Plumstead, London. The property in Plumstead Common Road started with a guide price of £75,000 and sold for almost double that at £148,500.

In Langford, near Maldon in Essex, a five-bedroom bungalow in two acres which can only be reached by boat, sold for £300,000 from a guide price of £225,000. Included in the sale was a dinghy and a punt!

Binstock added: “There is a real hunger for our properties at the moment and that is translating to some fierce bidding in an extremely positive atmosphere in the auction room.”