Gross mortgage lending -2 pct in May-CML

LONDON (Reuters) - Gross mortgage lending in May fell 2 percent on the month to 25.5 billion pounds, the Council of Mortgage Lenders said on Thursday.

That left lending 19 percent down from the 31.5 billion pounds high reached in May 2007.

"The next few months will remain very weak for house purchase activity for the funding reasons which are now well rehearsed," said CML director general Michael Coogan.

"We still await first signs of the Bank of England's Special Liquidity Scheme indirectly helping to ease the current logjam."