THE hold-ups which have been plaguing house sales in Bournemouth have got worse instead of better.

Local authority land searches are taking 10-12 weeks rather than the few days normally expected.

Bournemouth Borough Council, which has blamed the problem on staffing problems and computer software, has conceded the situation is worsening but said it should improve within weeks.

One seller, Andrew Webster from Southbourne, said he had found a buyer within six days of putting his house on the market in July - but would not be moving until Christmas.

"We're leaving here to go to live in Germany. It's caused no end of problems with us," he said. He had lost his chance of going to university abroad this year because of the delay.

He said he knew of at least two house sales which had fallen through. He added: "They pull out and they say 'Property prices are still rising. We'll sit back until our property goes up a few more thousand and then we'll put it back on the market when the backlog is finished'."

One estate agent told the Daily Echo: "It's a bit ridiculous. I think we're the only place in the country which is taking so long.

"It's a bit of a nightmare, especially as you get solicitors who don't apply for the local authority searches straight away because they're out of the area and they don't realise the situation in town."

Eric Fisher, Bournemouth council's director of central services, acknowledged the situation had deteriorated since the Echo first publicised the problems.

He said there had been staffing problems because of long-term sickness and retirement. A national computer firm had required the council to wipe all data to make way for new software which could not eventually be installed.

He said the council had now doubled its land search staff to make it four.

The team is doing overtime and working Saturdays where possible.

"There's not going to be a quick-fix, short term solution but now that we're in September and we've got our team together, I'm hopeful the situation will show significant improvement in the coming weeks," he said.

"I apologise for the problems this has caused individuals and ask if they can remain patient in this difficult time while we do everything we can to bring this back to a normal situation," he added.