The number of mortgage approvals for house purchase in July stood at 68,764 – up from an average of 64,186 over the previous six months,

The Bank of England figure was released yesterday.

The Bank also said that the number of approvals for remortaging was 38,042, up from a monthly average of 34,549 over the previous six months.

Richard Sexton, of LSL chartered surveying firm e.surv, said: “The housing market is looking healthier than it has in years.”