A number of mortgage lenders are cutting the number of products they offer to borrowers, it has been claimed.

This is particularly typical of sub-prime lenders, revealed Peter O’Donovan, head of mortgages at Bestinvest, who previously dealt with a number of products.

"It is depressing to see such a big difference in the amount of products available, but in some ways it makes it easier for us to be able to do our job," he continued.

Mr O’Donovan claimed that with fewer lenders operating, the concentration of people applying for mortgages will be greater.

Paragon Mortgages reported earlier this month that brokers expected to do an average of eight per cent more business in the third quarter of the year than in the previous three months.

Of those questioned, 58 per cent predicted an increase in mortgage business and 31 per cent expected to see a ten per cent or more increase in business in the third quarter.

Seven per cent of brokers expect to see a fall in business, compared to 19 per cent in the survey conducted in March.