LONDON:  British house prices rose by 0.7% in August, the biggest month-on-month rise for three months and following a 0.4% rise in July, mortgage lender Halifax said on Tuesday.

In annual terms, house price growth cooled to 7.1% from 7.6% in July, the weakest reading for five months.

(Reporting by Andy Bruce Editing by William Schomberg) ((andy.bruce@thomsonreuters.com; +442075423484; Reuters Messaging: andy.bruce.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))