CHELMSFORD is bucking a national trend of a reduction in the number of house buyers.

New figures published by the National Association of Estate Agents show the number of house buyers has fallen by a third year on year.

But estate agents across Chelmsford are adamant this is not the case in the area.

The National Association of Estate Agents housing market report shows demand in July was at the lowest seen since November 2013 and a third lower than July last year.

The report also shows supply of housing increased marginally in July and the number of sales made to first-time buyers decreased by five per cent from June.

But Steve Joslin, manager of Property Street Estate and Letting Agents in Victoria Road, said they were seeing a lack of sellers, rather than buyers.

He said: “Here, we’re not seeing a lack of buyers at all - I think people are still waiting on their properties to see where they want to be.

“Over the last couple of months, since the Brexit vote, it seems homeowners are less likely to sell because they want to see what happens to the market.

“There are plenty of people willing to buy in the area, Chelmsford is bucking the trend.”

Mark Hayward, managing director of the National Association of Estate Agents, said: “We expected uncertainty in the immediate period following Brexit and during summer it quietens.”

A similar trend has been reported in South Essex.

Colin MacLean, director of Amos Estate Agents, said: “I think in Essex we have been benefiting from the central London market as the market has been spreading out into Essex.

“In Essex were are still going strong.”