mortgage lending is expected to stay at high levels for the rest of this year as the housing boom continues, figures suggested yesterday.

Gross mortgage lending in September remained high, with £19.7bn advanced, according to figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders.

Separate figures out also showed buoyant lending in September by building societies and banks.

Data from the British Bankers Association showed total net lending by banks rose very strongly, up 1.7 per cent in September, or £14.8bn, to £866bn.

It compares with August's rise of £4.9bn.