The number of new mortgages being approved for house buyers has fallen for the sixth month in a row, Bank of England figures show.

There were 47,185 mortgage approvals in October, down slightly from September’s level and 17% lower than in October 2009.

The data suggests that house sales will be stuck in a rut in the coming months.

Separately, the property website Hometrack said the average home was now taking nearly 10 weeks to sell.

This, it said, was the longest sale time for 17 months.

“The seasonal slowdown in the housing market has kicked in a month early, with demand for housing falling at the fastest rate for 23 months,” said Richard Donnell, director of research at Hometrack.

“Concerns over the economic outlook on the back of recent spending cuts, together with widespread expectations that house prices are set for a period of retrenchment, are driving the continued weakness in demand.”