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The lender revealed last week that it would only accept online and postal mortgage applications until Monday 17 March.

Last Tuesday, the lender issued a statement informing intermediaries that due to unprecedented volumes of inquiries it would not be accepting telephone applications until the following Monday.

During this period, the mortgage sales, mortgage underwriting and mortgage credit teams' telephone lines - the numbers normally used to enquire about the progress of applications - were closed.

However, in a statement Scottish Widows Bank said the progress of each individual mortgage application would be given as soon as key milestones were reached.

Advisers could also check the progress of online applications through the lender's website.

Richard Clark, head of product development and marketing for Scottish Widows Bank, said it was the first time the lender had been forced into taking such action.

He said: "In the last week or two we have had some very competitive products available and as a result we have seen unprecedented volumes of business."

Mr Clark said the decision had been taken to put a temporary hold on telephone applications so staff could concentrate on providing a good level of service, particularly with underwriting, on the applications that had already been received.

He said applications could still be submitted by post, through the Scottish Widows Bank website and through The Mortgage Trading Exchange and Trigold.

Mr Clark said: "We are fully open for business but we are just not accepting telephone applications. We want to give the team a sporting chance to get through the existing telephone applications."

He said he did not expect Scottish Widows Bank to make any changes to its procedures or service infrastructure in the future.

He said: "I do not think so. This is a very temporary measure so there will not be a change to our structure or products. We have just experienced an unanticipated spike in business."

Ronan Marrion, mortgage specialist for Truro-based IFA Worldwide Financial Planning Limited, said it was not unusual for lenders to close their doors to business but some might just temporarily price themselves out of the market.

He said: "The way Scottish Widows Bank have done it is good common sense. Standards can slip and then the service can go into meltdown if you continue to get high volumes of business without doing anything to stem the flow.

"I am surprised they are continuing to accept online and postal applications though, advisers will just submit business this way."