A Newport-based auction house is at number one in the property sales charts in Wales.

Paul Fosh Auctions is top in the national auction league for selling the largest number of properties in 2015.

This is the eighth year in a row the Newport-based business has achieved the premier position for properties sold.

The firm has maintained its dominance in this intensely-competitive industry in Wales and also notched up a strong position in the UK rankings.

Paul Fosh Auctions sold 306 properties out of 411 lots offered at eight auctions in the 12 months to December 2015, with a total sales value of £18,945,900.

Figures reveal that the firm sold almost a quarter of the entire number of properties sold at auction in Wales during 2015.

The reputable annual auction sales chart, a highly-regarded guide within the industry, is compiled by UK industry experts the Essential Information Group and published in association with industry ‘Bible’ Estates Gazette.

The EIG chart shows that 33 auction firms held a total of 127 auctions throughout Wales in 2015 offering 1,641 lots of which 1,287 sold returning a combined value of £99,414,683.

Paul Fosh, managing director of the company, who also played host to BBC’s Homes Under the Hammer at his sales during most of 2015, said: “The past 12 months were as tough as I have known. However, I am delighted with the excellent results that our team has delivered.

“The entire team worked tirelessly, firstly to get the stock into the catalogue and then to do their utmost to get these lots sold at auction. “We’re very pleased with the results but we’re not ones to rest on our laurels or to become complacent, the market place is ever changing and we have to adapt to those changes.

“Property auctions and buying property of all types at auctions has become increasingly popular over the years as people become more familiar with the process. As a result many of those who are new to the procedure need a high degree of hand holding.

“We’re only too happy to lend that hand of support and guidance. That is a constant though in business I believe and something that all businesses should strive for, excellent customer service. We will always have customer service at the heart of our business.

“That said, keeping up with the times is very important. We are in the process of a few changes which I will be able to give more details on in due course."