I am dismayed at the way this country (not Scotland) deals with people trying to get on to and hoping to move up the property ladder.

My son and daughter-in-law, who is a primary school teacher, have a two-year-old son and are expecting another baby in November.

On three occasions, they have been near to exchanging contracts on their two-bedroom flat in Hove, only to be let down by the prospective purchasers at the last minute.

It has cost my son a fortune in solicitors' fees, as well as a £500 survey on a property they thought they could go ahead with.

How can this be fair? Not only do they have to start again from scratch but the stress and financial worry is appalling.

Change the system now. The only people who profit are the solicitors and surveyors.

-Mrs Doreen Walker, Hove