They say it is a major breakthrough in our understanding of numbers and their properties - but it may take a bit of explaining.

BBC: The secret of squares revealed

Hyndburn (7.03%), Pendle (6.43%) and Blackburn with Darwin (5.80%) also have high numbers of empty properties.

BBC: New life for Accrington ghost streets of terraced homes

Hyndburn (7.03%), Pendle (6.43%) and Blackburn with Darwen (5.80%) are also found to have high numbers of empty properties.

BBC: Burnley has 'highest empty house percentage in England'

Money that had been raised to buy distressed assets was also switched into safer ones when it became clear that bargain properties were not coming to market in great numbers (of which more below).

ECONOMIST: Prime numbers