The housing market in Brighton and Hove is not showing any signs of slowing down, according to city estate agents.

The comments come as estate agents around England have reported a sharp fall in the number of houses being sold following the terrorist attacks on the United States.

The reports have prompted fears house prices are about to plummet.

More than 80 per cent of estate agents contacted in a national telephone survey reported a fall in demand since September 11.

But there is no sign the housing market in Brighton and Hove is showing similar signs of a slowdown, city estate agents have said.

Kirsty Gorrill, sales team leader at Your Move, said houses were still being sold at close to asking price and there was no sign buyers were getting cold feet.

She said: "We have found things are still very buoyant, property is still coming on to the market and people are still looking to buy."

Andy Lees, a partner at Graves Jenkins Residential, said prices were only falling back if they had been set too high in the first place.

He said: "There is nothing I have seen to suggest prices are coming down significantly."

Brian Huggins, of Fox and Sons, said "The market has been surprisingly resilient at the moment. We have seen no significant change."

A recent survey found Brighton and Hove had the third highest percentage of property sales in any city or major town in England and Wales.

Prices have soared, with the average cost of a house sold in the city standing at £237,000 in the first three months of this year.