ESTATE agents in Worcester have criticised the Goverment's decision to delay bringing in home information packs just 10 days before they were due to be introduced.

Communities and Local Government Secretary Ruth Kelly has delayed the scheme until August, when it will initially be introduced for four-bedroom and bigger homes only.

But estate agents in Worcester have branded the decision a "shambles" after months of preparing for the change.

James Edwards, director of Town and Country estate agents in Foregate Street, said the Government had not planned for the June launch properly.

"It really is a shambles," he said. "It just underlines the chaotic way the legislation was put together and the fact the Government hasn't thought it through properly. The plans to bring it in for four-bedroom houses in August looks like they are just trying to save face."

Mr Edwards said he believed Ms Kelly's comments that there were not enough energy or domestic energy assessors fully accredited to be ready for June was a smoke screen.

Tim Gaston, from Humberts, said a lot of time and money had gone into preparation for HIPs and he had personally had to travel to London many times for meetings to prepare.

Mr Gaston said: "It is a failure on the Government's part to listen to the industry, from agents, lawyers and the national association of estate agents.

"I think it was a knee-jerk reaction and the whole thing does not seem to have been properly thought through."

Mr Gaston said Humberts had lost out on some potential sellers following the news, as they had wanted to put their house on the market before June.