The Nationwide Building Society is urging George Osborne to maintain the Stamp Duty threshold at £250,000 for first-time buyers in his Autumn statement later today.

The current threshold was introduced two years ago and is due to end in March 2012.

The mutual believes that the removal of the threshold is likely to further deter many first-time buyers from entering the housing market.

As well as maintaining the threshold for first-time buyers, Nationwide is also calling on the Government to increase the annual cash ISA limit to £10,680 in line with the equity ISA limit in order to offer a low risk tax-free option for borrowers saving up a deposit.

Graham Beale , Nationwide chief executive, said: “Nationwide recognises the importance of first-time buyers to a buoyant housing market.