Weak net mortgage lending figures are a reflection of problems experienced in previous months, it has been said.

Statistics director at the British Bankers Association (BBA) David Dooks revealed that they also depict the wider financial difficulties experienced by many people.

"Households’ uncertain financial circumstances not surprisingly continue to dictate consumer behaviour, both in the housing market and in generating only low demand for new personal loans," Mr Dooks continued.

The BBA figures also show that personal deposits have increased for the third month in a row, although the savings trend in bank accounts is still yet to recover.

Lending to financial firms has also seen a decrease, the statistics reveal.

The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) reported earlier this month that mortgage lending fell to an estimated £10.4 billion in April – down by nine per cent compared to March 2009.

Mortgage lending in March and April 2009 was down by 57 per cent compared to the same months in 2008, the CML suggested, with estimates for gross mortgage lending this year expected to total £145 billion.