First-time buyers have been pushed further out of the property market after some mortgage deals were withdrawn yesterday, including the last 100% loans from a mainstream lender.

Borrowers looking for two-year fixed-rate deals were also surprised to learn that the average rate across the market rose above 7%.

According to reports, Bank of Ireland and Bristol & West gave brokers less than a day's notice before removing their entire mortgage range. This included First Start, which allows first-time buyers to take out a joint 100% mortgage with their parents.

Woolwich, which is owned by Barclays, raised some of its rates and reduced the maximum loan-to-value offer on five and 10-year fixed rate deals by 10% to 80%. Reports also suggest that there are only a small number of providers in Northern Ireland that currently offer borrowers 100% mortgages. Most deals available require customers to provide deposits of at least 10%.

But industry sources said yesterday the average deposit requirement for a mortgage could soon rise to 20%, as providers became increasingly conservative about to whom they would lend.

Darren Cook, mortgage expert at Moneyfacts.co.uk, the price comparison website said: "The average LTV available from providers has come down from around 95% last year to 90% now and it could drop another five or 10% soon."