Poor sales figures from Bovis Homes dashed the fragile recovery in sentiment in the housebuilding sector on Tuesday, though the gloom was soon lifted by rumours of a debt lifeline for larger rival Taylor Wimpey.

Shares throughout the sector fell on Tuesday morning as Bovis, one of Britain’s leading developers, revealed it had sold only 92 homes since June 30 – or fewer than two per day – barely a third of the figure in 2007.