The number of houses sold per estate agent in the region has fallen to a fresh low - but the industry remains hopeful for better times ahead.

A report from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors found the average number of completed sales per estate agent in the south east fell to 10 in the last three months, or under one a week.

Chartered surveyor Mike Hewson, of Tonbridge estate agent Ibbett Mosely, said in his contribution to the report that "new sales had been hard to come by".

He said: "Until some stability returns to the economy, prices will probably continue to fall, or owners will just sit tight and not sell. At some time there will be a lot more activity - we just do not know when."

Chartered surveyor David Parry, of Cluttons in Maidstone, said: "The majority of sales agreed have proved to be abortive due to difficulties in obtaining a standard mortgage."

The RICS figure compares with a previous regional low, issued in early September, of an average 11 completed sales per estate agent over three months.

The current national average is 11.5 sales per estate agent in the past three months, a fall from 12.7 in the previous figures.

The figures came a day after the Government said it would inject up to £37bn of taxpayers' cash into Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds TSB and HBOS. The banks have agreed to boost lending as part of the deal.

Meanwhile, UK inflation rose to 5.2 per cent in September, in the wake of new higher energy bills, official figures show.

Commentators believe this will mark a peak, due to lower oil prices and reduced demand.