Despite the criticism that greeted the announcement of the Government’s latest package of measures designed to prop up the housing market many of the county’s leading estate agents welcomed the changes.

"All the debate in the press and elsewhere over whether the Government should be doing more has thoroughly clouded the issue and confused a great many people," said David Lench, managing director of Ward & Partners’ parent company Arun Estates.

"The reality is that there is now a whole raft of measures in place to provide much-needed help for first-time buyers."

On the 12-month suspension of stamp duty on homes costing up to £175,000, David said: "It has been claimed that this change won’t help many people in the South East, but across the Arun Group almost one in every four sales fall within this category.

"Whether or not the Government should have gone further and raised the threshold all the way to £200,000, the fact remains that this move already equates to a saving of £1,750. If you’re a hard-pressed first-time buyer struggling to save a large enough deposit, that could make all the difference."

Earlier in the year, the Government also announced two new shared-ownership schemes –MyChoice HomeBuy and NewBuild HomeBuy. Originally designed to help key workers, these have now been extended to cover first-time buyers who can’t afford to purchase without assistance.

Under the MyChoice scheme, the Government provides up to 50 per cent of the purchase price in the form of a special low-interest equity loan – so buyers only have to find the other 50 per cent.

Under the second scheme, geared to the purchase of new homes on designated developments, the buyer only needs to find a minimum of 25 per cent of the total cost. The remaining portion is rented from a housing association, with buyers having the option of purchasing a larger share when their circumstances allow.

There is HomeBuy Direct. Under this scheme –announced last month, although not operational until 2009 – £300m is being set aside to assist up to 10,000 first-time buyers into affordable new homes with the help of an equity loan of up to 30 per cent of the purchase price, interest free for the first five years.

"Taken all together," said Mr Lench, "These measures add up to what is arguably the most comprehensive package of support ever made available to first-time buyers."

Ward & Partners has 115 offices across the South East. Contact www.wardandpartners.co.uk