The overall number of Britons who own a foreign property is set to rise, according to experts.

The Office for National Statistics estimated that approximately two million people from the UK will have invested overseas by 2012.

Current figures suggest that the number is closer to 850,000, which means this will more than double over the next 17 years.

The figures were based on those people who have bought a holiday home overseas or those who divide their time between their property and the UK.

However, the ONS did recently report that a record number of Britons were choosing to set up home abroad on a permanent basis, therefore providing a further boost to the foreign property sector.

According to figures from the organisation, more than 200,000 UK nationals left the country during 2006 - the highest figure on record since the current measuring system was introduced.